11
Accepted
Strengthen National Policy Statement for Ports to support shore power and electric vessel charging
Recommendation
The Government should strengthen the National Policy Statement for Ports to better support the provision of shore power and electric vessel charging infrastructure as decarbonisation options, recognising the critical interface between ports and the energy grid. It would also assist in reducing pollution from ships which affects nearby communities. The NPS should clearly set 32 out expectations for planning authorities to facilitate grid upgrades and substation development where these would enable decarbonisation of shipping and port activity. (Recommendation, Paragraph 65) Environmental obligations
Government Response Summary
The government strongly supports shore power and charging infrastructure, committing to strengthen NPSP guidance on advance provision and clearly state the importance of designing new facilities with shore power and charging in mind. It also acknowledges grid capacity challenges and ongoing work.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government strongly supports the provision of shore power and charging infrastructure and the revised NPSP will strengthen the guidance on advance provision for shore power already present in the 2012 document. At the same time, we recognise the challenges that many ports currently face in securing sufficient Grid capacity; and once secured, pricing terms that are competitive with the use of ships’ generators. Work on this continues in liaison with DESNZ. But the NPSP will make clear the importance of new facilities being designed with shore power and sufficient charging infrastructure firmly in mind.
Source
Committee
Transport Committee
Report
4th Report - National Policy Statement for Ports
14 Nov 2025
HC 1028
Addressee Bodies
Department for Transport
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.7 yr
Report published
14 Nov 2025