The green port
The Port Authority is strongly committed to reducing the environmental impact of port activities. Among her main targets:
- improvement of power efficiency and development of renewable energy use (wind, sun, cold ironing)
- monitoring of sea water quality to control oil spills
- prevention of powder emission during port operations
- optimisation of the port waste collection and management system
- increase of the rail transport share
- Promotion of environment-oriented attitude among port operators
Energy
The Port Authority aims at optimising power consumption and developing renewable energy use to cope with the increase of electric power need related to the development of port activities.
Power consumption reduction
The port lighting system has been enhanced adopting new technologies: in 2008, light flux reducers were installed allowing to save some 15% on energy consumption for port road system lighting.
Wind energy
Since 2006 a 6 kW wind power generator supplies a port workshop, while a new plant consisting in two turbines (20kW rated power each) has been installed along the breakwater: a low visual impact and high wind exposure position.
Solar energy
Thanks to the installation of a photovoltaic plant (rated power: 120,96 kW), since 2010 the cruise terminal has been able to gain most of its energy needs from the sun (140 MWh in the first operating year); similar systems will soon be installed on the roofs of the cargo warehouses.
Air, water and soil protection
Air
In the port of Vado, thanks to the installation of a “cold ironing” system, ships can be supplied with power directly from the dock, allowing the shutdown of generators on board while in port, thus significantly reducing pollution from ships.
Thus, the carbon footprint can be considerably reduced: according to estimates, CO2 emissions have dropped by 1,100 tons per year; NOx by 38 tons, SOx by 30 tons, CO by 0,9 tons while Pm10, Pm2 and Pm5 by 1,3 tons.
Furthermore, the Port Authority pays great care to dry bulk handling, defining strict operating rules and forcing to stop operations in case powder emission should occur.
Water
The Port Authority installed a water quality monitoring system which allows to notice possible oil spills and to ensure a prompt intervention.
Soil
The Port Authority realised a waste depot in the port of Savona, where all the waste collected from the ships and from port operators can be stored in separated cells according to their nature.
Furthermore, the Port Authority periodically monitors the state of possible soil pollution sources, such as plants and tanks, controlling their certificates and promoting the substitution of the oldest plants with modern units, able to enhance the quality standards.