Green light for zero-emission trucks in Port of Gothenburg
Port of Gothenburg, the largest harbour of Sweden, is moving further in implementing the Tranzero Initiative, which is in line with the European Green Deal. The port authority intends to stimulate shippers and terminal operators to use more zero-emission trucks by introducing a special regime within the port area.
Starting from 1 January 2022, the battery- and hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles entering two terminals in the Port of Gothenburg, namely at the Stena Lines Gothenburg-Kiel-terminal and the Gothenburg RoRo Terminal, will be given a “Green Priority”. The new regime will allow the HGVs to bypass queues at the terminals. On entering the terminals, the trucks will be guided directly to the vessel or to dedicated Green Priority collection and delivery spaces.
“With the Green Priority project, we offer defined efficiency benefits to companies that use electrically powered trucks, which is not only a boost for the companies but also for our climate in the short, medium, and long term,” said Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line. The Green Priority project is part of the Tranzero Initiative, where Stena Line, Volvo Group, Scania, and the Gothenburg Port Authority have come together to speed up the transition of the haulage sector to fossil-free fuels. The overall goal is to reduce port-related emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.
Basic principle
The actual process can vary slightly depending on the specific conditions at the terminals although the basic principle remains the same – green trucks will be given priority. The purpose is to reduce the threshold for the greening of haulage companies’ vehicle fleets. According to the terminal operators, it is only fair that haulage companies that invest in electrically powered trucks are rewarded with defined efficiency benefits and shorter lead times.
“The rationale behind the Green Priority project is to demonstrate how the transition to fossil-free fuels can have a tangible impact on the industry. Although the transition of the transport sector as a whole will require far more time and effort, with Green Priority we have a clear, readily accessible concept that is a significant step along the way. We have the opportunity and capacity to add an extra green lane at our terminal, and it will be very interesting to see how Green Priority evolves,” said Maria Franksen, CEO of Gothenburg RoRo Terminal.