Crowley and the Port of San Diego break ground on shoreside charging station

A ground-breaking ceremony has been held at the Port of San Diego for a shoreside charging station that will provide Crowley’s upcoming zero-emissions eWolf tugboat with clean electricity.

The charging station – a microgrid charging site – will enable vessels to recharge efficiently while simultaneously reducing peak loads on the local energy grid. The station features two containerized energy storage systems (ESS) developed by Corvus Energy, and will operate on off-peak hours from the community’s energy grid. A solar power array will also be installed to support renewable energy use.

Each ESS will contain battery modules with a 1.5MWh storage capacity, equating to a combined capacity of 2,990kW. The charging station will also be equipped with a battery monitoring system, in addition to HVAC and firefighting and detection technology.

The eWolf tugboat and the shoreside solar charging facility are the result of a partnership between Crowley, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District, the California Air Resources Board, the Port of San Diego, the US EPA and the US Maritime Administration.

“We are proud to share in this moment with the City of San Diego to showcase an industry-first, shoreside charging station at the Port of San Diego,” said Matt Jackson, vice president of advanced energy at Crowley. “Building a sustainable, zero-emission port of the future requires pioneering new and innovative technology, as well as a commitment to partnerships so we can meet the needs of our communities, customers and people.”

“We are proud to work with Crowley and are grateful they chose San Diego Bay as the home of the first all-electric tugboat in the United States,” added Rafael Castellanos, chairman of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “Their commitment to sustainability in the maritime industry directly aligns with our own efforts and goals to reduce emissions and improve public health in our communities while also supporting efficient and modern maritime operations.”

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