Last night (August 22nd), Montrose Port Authority (MPA) won the Best Practice Award at the first ever Scottish Green Energy Supply Chain Awards which took place at the P&J Live in Aberdeen.

Organised by the trade body Scottish Renewables, with headline sponsorship from TotalEnergies, the event showcased the innovation, dedication, and leadership present within Scotland’s renewable energy supply chain. These awards are a testament to the hard work and vision driving Scotland’s transition to a greener future.

Montrose Port was awarded the Best Practice Award, sponsored by Coast Offshore, for our pioneering Plug Montrose project. This self-funded joint venture with leading Norwegian shore power company, Plug, marks a significant milestone in sustainable energy practices within the Scottish maritime industry as we are the first port in Scotland to provide shore power to offshore energy vessels.

The Best Practice Award recognises a company or project that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to implementing initiatives that achieve outstanding improvements in health, safety, environmental sustainability, and quality. Additionally, it acknowledges efforts to engage with stakeholders, including local communities, ensuring alignment and cooperation as projects evolve. The judges were seeking a shining example of excellence in business best practices, and we are honoured to have set the gold standard by creating Plug Montrose, a £1 million shore power initiative.

When berthed, ships require power for lighting, heating, cooling, and various other functions, which is typically supplied by diesel-fuelled auxiliary engines. Shore power, however, provides electrical power directly from the shore with a 100% Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO), enabling ships to shut down their engines. This significantly reduces emissions, fuel consumption, and noise pollution, improving air quality and the wellbeing of staff, port users, and the surrounding community. Safety is enhanced with a quieter environment, allowing maintenance tasks like air leak inspections with engines off, enabling crew to work comfortably without ear defenders.

Shore power’s implementation was driven by a commitment to environmental responsibility and stakeholder engagement, reflecting MPA’s leadership in advancing greener operations within the ports sector.

Montrose Port’s win highlights our dedication to leading the way in sustainable energy solutions, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to contribute to Scotland’s green energy future.