The Port of Gothenburg has signed a SEK 129 million contract to build a transformer station aimed at powering its container and car terminals with shore-side electricity, moving the Swedish gateway a step closer to carbon-reduced operations.
The contract, awarded to AF Bygg Väst, a division of AF Gruppen Sverige, includes the construction of a 19 MVA transformer facility. This infrastructure is a critical part of the port’s long-term strategy to electrify terminal operations and enable shore power connection for container ships and RoRo vessels.
The transformer will support electrical connections at seven berths—five in the container terminal and two in the car terminal—making Gothenburg one of the few major ports in northern Europe preparing for shore power on this scale. The station is scheduled to break ground in Q2 2025 and reach completion by March 2027.
“This transformer station is an important milestone that brings us significantly closer to shore-side power connection for container and car/RoRo vessels,” said Magnus Nordfeldt, Head of Business Area Cargo at Port of Gothenburg. “It enables electrical connection at a total of seven berths.”
The port’s overall investment in Onshore Power Supply (OPS) at the two terminals—encompassing cable systems, switchgear, and grid integration—is estimated at approximately SEK 600 million. A significant portion of this infrastructure drive is supported by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, contributing around SEK 90 million to the transformer project alone.
By reducing emissions from berthed vessels, OPS not only improves air quality but also supports wider EU and Swedish environmental targets. It also aligns with the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization ambitions, offering shipowners and terminal operators a pathway toward cleaner operations.
As energy demand and vessel traffic continue to grow, electrifying terminal infrastructure is becoming less a luxury and more a necessity. Gothenburg’s decision to push forward—especially in advance of the EU’s 2030 shore power readiness goals—signals a serious intent to meet the maritime sector’s evolving sustainability demands head-on.
