The Port of Rotterdam has launched a tender process called Carbonbid, through which it will finance with 3.5 million euros 8 projects aimed at reducing CO₂e emissions within the port area. These initiatives will prevent the emission of 575,000 tons of CO₂e in four years, at an average cost of only €6 per ton.
What is Carbonbid and how does it work?
Carbonbid is a reverse bidding model designed to reward those proposals that achieve the greatest emission reductions at the lowest cost. The Port Authority selected 8 winners from 54 proposals, exclusively supporting projects implemented within the port area and outside the scope of the European ETS.
This process seeks to encourage not only the industry, but also logistics and service providers to transform their operations towards sustainable models.
These are the selected companies and projects
The companies to receive funding range from waste treatment to electrification of heavy machinery. The projects selected were:
- Xirqulate: Converts contaminated port sludge from the Slufter into raw materials.
- Real1ze: Implements mobile degassing of shipsavoiding offshore voyages.
- ECT: Will replace diesel AGVs with electric versions.
- Steinweg: Will renew its diesel reach stackers with electric models.
- Celsius: Will deploy onshore mobile electric power solutions.
- Fleet Robotics: It will be in charge of cleaning hulls of marine and inland vessels.
- Den Bosch / Nijmegen Max: Will convert two inland waterway vessels to battery electric propulsion.
- Kalmar: Will manufacture new generation electric reach stackers.
A rigorous and transparent process
After the 54 applications were received, 20 were shortlisted and a technical jury evaluated the feasibility of each proposal, while the consulting firm EY audited that the CO₂e reductions were measurable and verifiable. Finally, contracts were signed with the 8 initiatives that offered the highest reduction at the lowest cost per ton.
Statements and next steps
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, welcomed the success of this first round:
Our goal is to use Carbonbid to persuade these parties to be more sustainable when necessary. [I am pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the projects and that with this budget we are avoiding the emission of so many greenhouse gases.
Boudewijn Siemons, executive director of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
The Port of Rotterdam is already contemplating a second round of Carbonbid, encouraged by the impact achieved in this first edition.
Source and photo: Port of Rotterdam