PowerCon’s mission is to design, build and implement innovative and scalable shore power solutions. The company has become the go-to partner for ports and customers worldwide and intends to keep it that way.
Peter C. Knudsen, Partner & CFO, told Hannah Barnett how PowerCon has secured its leading market position and is working to achieve its goals.
With a vision to push technical boundaries and develop the shore power solutions of the future, PowerCon plays a key role in maritime decarbonisation today. The company has built its reputation on being specialised, reliable and committed to long-term success. But expert knowledge and practical experience with shore power is not enough for the company.
“We don’t see ourselves as just a supplier in the industry,” said Peter C. Knudsen, Partner & CFO. “With each customer, we are looking to establish long-term partnerships where we guide, inform and educate them.
To many ports, shore power is something new. We hold a lot of expertise and practical knowledge in this area, so we feel obliged to help them as much as possible so they can make the best, long-term decision for their specific port.
“Many ports are becoming energy hubs, but the development is still in its infancy. We have the knowledge that they need on not just what a shore power system is, but what the technology can be and the potential for scaling it over time.”
Well-equipped
Today, PowerCon plays a crucial role in the development of maritime electrical infrastructure. Its origins as a supplier to wind turbine OEMs like Vestas and Siemens Gamesa have allowed the company to certify the reliability of its core technology in tough environments around the world, often offshore.
Similar to offshore wind turbines, shore power solutions are implemented in harsh environments, reflecting the requirements that these solutions have to live up to. “We have done installations at the border of the Arctic, all the way to some of the hottest and most humid climates in the world,” said Mr Knudsen.
Today, PowerCon numbers about 250 employees with the majority based at a purpose-built new facility in Hobro, Denmark. With 2,500 square metres of office space, and an additional 3,500 square metres for production, assembly and warehousing, the site is well-equipped to test the full range of products before they are shipped to customers around the world.
The new facility has not only given PowerCon the ability to serve the market as it is, but also to keep expanding. This means adapting to shore power being implemented on an increasingly larger and more complex scale.
PowerCon’s team is largely made up of highly skilled hardware and software developers, engineers and electrical system designers. The company also collaborates with a range of experienced sub-contractors, ensuring that only the best materials and components are used.
The port of Kristiansand in Norway was the first to trial PowerCon’s shore power design, allowing the company to demonstrate that its technology could work effectively in a real port environment. “It was important for
us to get that first milestone and to show a tangible example of these systems in action,” said Mr Knudsen. “We now play a significant role in the shore power industry, which is something that we are very proud of.”
Modular magic
Shore power products must be of a high quality to stand the test of time in port environments. PowerCon has found an innovative way to guarantee durability. Each shore power system consists of standard shipping containers into which the company integrates the main electrical components, creating a building block design approach that is flexible, yet highly effective and reliable.
“We are able to be flexible to our customer’s requirements,” Mr Knudsen explained, “but we do that with standard components produced in our factory, ensuring an easier installation onsite. Using 20-foot shipping containers to encapsulate the equipment has been a significant part of our success and is something that really sets us apart from the rest of the market.”
The containerised solution not only improves the efficiency of shore power systems, but it also allows the manufacturing to happen inside a factory, instead of onsite.
This ensures a controlled environment, without bad weather or interruptions from port operations, and “improves the quality significantly” according to Mr Knudsen.
The other benefit of modulization is that the company can use the same types of containers, configured in different ways, to serve a variety of vessels. Ports often demand complete solutions for different ships, but each system type can be
scaled over time, as more ships connect to shore power.
“We convert and transform the electrical supply from the grid to meet the requirements of the ships”, explained Mr Knudsen.
“There is a tendency to look at shore power as an extension of the grid. What sets us apart is that we do not make a prototype system every time and we do not try to extend the grid. We look at shore power
as a product, and we utilise scalable modules to configure a solution that meets every demand.”
The best in the business
PowerCon is currently working on a significant project at the Port of Bremerhaven, Germany. This project requires designated shore power solutions for two container vessels, one RoRo ship and one cruise ship, with all systems prepared for future expansion. In order to pull off a project of this complexity, the company relies on strong relationships with sub-suppliers. Cable management suppliers in particular are essential, according to Mr Knudsen.
“We don’t have exclusivity contracts with any of our suppliers,” he added. “We have transparent communication, and we develop these relationships to benefit each other, as well as ports and the industry in general. It’s all about adding value to the supply chain.”
As a business focused on standardisation, PowerCon is able to offer very competitive lead times; a desirable attribute for ports needing to swiftly comply with regulations or looking for a partner exclusively focused on shore power.
“By having a scalable platform tailor-made for shore power, and a focused approach solely on shore power solutions, we can be more competitive than some of the large multi-nationals,” said Mr Knudsen. “Shore power is a niche market, and we have specialised in it for years, which is why we have won a lot of projects. We are world champions within this area.”
Looking ahead, the industry anticipates the demand to keep increasing for shore power solutions. This is partly due to regulatory requirements such as the ‘Fit for 55’ directive in the EU or the CARB regulations in California. For PowerCon, this means ensuring that the company continues to be able to serve a rapidly expanding market.
“What we’re seeing now is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the electrification of the maritime industry,” said Mr Knudsen. “As a technology at the forefront of the energy transition, it’s clearly a dynamic moment for shore power.”
PowerCon is currently installing Europe’s largest shore power installation in Copenhagen and finalising the world’s largest installation in Miami. At the same time, the company is preparing to start the first shore power installation in the Southern Hemisphere in Sydney.
Such demand is the main reason why PowerCon has invested so proactively. The company aims to service the market for many years to come and hopefully “break another record soon,” concluded Mr Knudsen, with a smile. n
