Integrated Energy Solutions for Sustainable Port Development
Methodological Approach and Exemplary Results
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52825/isec.v2i.3409Keywords:
Integrated Energy System, Port Development, Renewable Energy, Sector Coupling, Electrification, Power-to-Heat, GHG Emission Reduction, Techno-Economic OptimisationAbstract
This paper investigates integrated energy system (IES) concepts to support the sustainable transformation of the Swiss Rhine inland port of Basel-Kleinhüningen (KLH) towards high self-sufficiency and near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035. Starting point is a current energy demand of 9.9 GWh/a and GHG emissions of 1’557 t CO2-eq/a where 55% of the emissions stem from fossil fuels for land-based mobility and 17% from fossil-based heating while electricity-related emissions are low. The technical potential of photovoltaics (PV) is assessed, indicating that local PV generation could cover a substantial share of port demand, especially when combined with battery storage, Power-to-Heat and local grids.
A comprehensive model of the port energy system is developed and implemented in the software Sympheny, representing multiple hubs, sector coupling (electricity, heat, mobility), storage options and network interconnection. Using mixed-integer linear optimisation with hourly resolution, different IES concepts for 2035 are generated which minimise a combination of life-cycle costs and annual greenhouse gas emissions.
The preliminary results feature extensive electrification of mobility and heating, phase-out of gas and oil boilers, and significant PV expansion combined with battery storage. Compared to the current state, total GHG emissions are reduced by 82–97% and energy imports by 39–44%, with electricity autarky rises to 60–65%. Required investments range from 8.6 to 23.5 MCHF. The total annual costs (including energy costs, but still with some simplifications) remain comparable to today and underline the techno-economic viability of integrated energy solutions for the port area.
Downloads
References
[1] Q. Wu, J. Tan, X. Jin, M. Zhang, A. Turk, “Introduction of integrated energy systems”, in: Opti-mal Operation of Integrated Multi-Energy Systems Under Uncertainty, Elsevier, 2022, pp. 1-16, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824114-1.00006-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824114-1.00006-8
[2] E. Guelpa, A. Bischi, V. Verda, M. Chertkov, H. Lund, ”Towards future infrastructures for sus-tainable multi-energy systems: A review”, Energy, Volume 184, 2019, pp. 2-21, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.05.057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.05.057
[3] Sonnendach. “Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE website”. https://www.uvek-gis.admin.ch/BFE/sonnendach/ (accessed 15.03.2026)
[4] Sonnenfassade. “Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE website”. https://www.uvek-gis.admin.ch/BFE/sonnenfassade/ (accessed 15.03.2026)
[5] Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (2023) Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion fac-tors 2023. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2023
[6] IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (R. K. Pa-chauri & L. A. Meyer, Eds.). Geneva, Switzerland: IPCC, 151 pp.
[7] E. Volkart, I.K. Nauser, M. Alig, «Treibhausgas-Emissionsfaktoren für den Gebäudesektor: Be-stimmung von Emissionsfaktoren nach den Bilanzierungsregeln der KBOB und des GHG-Protocols (Version 2.0)». Zürich (2024).
[8] N. Gray, R. O'Shea, D. Wall, B. Smyth, P.N.L. Lens, J.D. Murphy, “Batteries, fuel cells, or en-gines? A probabilistic economic and environmental assessment of electricity and electrofuels for heavy goods vehicles”, Advances in Applied Energy, Volume 8, 2022, 100110, ISSN 2666-7924, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adapen.2022.100110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adapen.2022.100110
[9] J. Brousek, T. Petr, P. Brabec, “Comparative analysis of CO 2 emissions from conventional in-ternal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles in se-lected Central European countries”, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 544, 2026, 147706, ISSN 0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.147706 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.147706
[10] A. Albatayneh, M.N. Assaf, D. Alterman and M. Jaradat, "Comparison of the Overall Energy Effi-ciency for Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles and Electric Vehicles." Environmental and Cli-mate Technologies, vol. 24, no. 1, Riga Technical University, 2020, pp. 669-680. https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0041 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0041
[11] T. Brudermueller, U. Potthoff, E. Fleisch, F. Wortmann, T. Staake, «Estimation of energy effi-ciency of heatpumps in residential buildings using real operation data. Nature Communications 16, 2834 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58014-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58014-y
[12] M. Geidl and G. Andersson, "Optimal Power Flow of Multiple Energy Carriers," in IEEE Transac-tions on Power Systems, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 145-155, Feb. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPWRS.2006.888988 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TPWRS.2006.888988
[13] L. A. Bollinger, V. Dorer, “The Ehub Modeling Tool: A flexible software package for district energy system optimization”, Energy Procedia, Volume 122, 2017, Pages 541-546, ISSN 1876-6102, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.402 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.402
[14] Urban Sympheny AG. “Sympheny” https://www.sympheny.com (accessed 15.03.2026)
Published
How to Cite
Conference Proceedings Volume
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Elimar Frank, Thomas Franz, Felix Rost, Andrew Bollinger, Laura Jakobeit, Michael Schüller, Martina Heer
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.