HomeCalculatorsCold Ironing (OPS) Savings

Cold Ironing (OPS) Savings

Fuel, CO₂ and pollutant savings when a ship plugs into shore power instead of running aux engines at berth. Drives CARB, EU AFIR and FuelEU port-stay compliance.

PortOPSCold ironing

At berth

Hours alongsidehAverage hotel + cargo loadkWAux SFOC at port loadg/kWhAux fuel displaced

Shore grid

Shore-electricity emission factorgCO₂/kWhEU 2023 average ≈ 250 gCO₂/kWh; hydro-rich grids (Norway, Québec) < 30; coal-heavy > 700.

Aux fuel avoided

7.13t

Ship-side CO₂ avoided

22.85t

Shore-side CO₂ added

8.10t

Net CO₂ saving

14.75t

Formula, assumptions, and limits

Cold-ironing eliminates SOx and NOx emissions entirely at the berth. Net CO₂ saving depends on the shore-grid carbon intensity - in coal-heavy grids the CO₂ gain can be small, but local-pollutant benefits remain.