Charting a Path Toward a Decarbonized Future for the Port of Cleveland

Ports are at a critical juncture – they must be operationally resilient, efficient, safe, and profitable, while at the same time, must navigate modern day challenges, optimize operations, decarbonize themselves, and serve as a key enabler for the world’s energy transition.

At Jacobs, we draw on a maritime business heritage that spans more than 150 years to help our ports and maritime clients manage their operations, build and maintain their infrastructure, protect their coastlines, convey people and goods, and serve as critical infrastructure hubs. Today, we’re helping them with their decarbonization journeys and to optimize operations for a more connected, sustainable tomorrow. 

That’s why, when the Port of Cleveland faced growing operational constraints from growing demand and a changing climate, they turned to us for a comprehensive electrification master plan.

Navigating the path to zero-emissions…

The Port of Cleveland is a critical freshwater Great Lakes port adjacent to the St Lawrence Seaway. Today, the port’s operations are constrained by both ship size and seasonal weather closures of the Seaway’s locks near Niagara falls. Additionally, the port is challenged by very tight budgets, a changing shipping market as winters become more and more mild, and a need to future-proof, maintain competitiveness and reduce impacts on its surrounding communities.

The Port of Cleveland selected Jacobs to lead the development of a comprehensive electrification master plan to provide a clear roadmap for the port to optimize operations and achieve net zero emissions. 

Our study analyzed the existing diesel fleet’s fuel, energy and emissions to develop a grounded battery electric transition plan and timeline for all the port’s cargo handling, mobile harbor crane, and container handling fleet. We also analyzed the feasibility of completely shifting to 100% shore power, also known as cold ironing, of the port’s cargo and cruise vessel calls.

Our cross-functional team collaboratively developed unique models for:

• Electrical rate analysis, with solar, wind, and battery storage renewable options. 
• Conversion of existing diesel equipment to battery electric and hydrogen equipment equivalents. 
• Determining energy requirements over time for cargo and cruise ship cold ironing, including determining % of time that certain peak scenarios of multiple ships at the port will occur based on previous year’s data. 
• Determining daily energy requirements for a battery electrical cargo handling fleet to ensure the ability to meet daily operational needs of the port. Additionally, the model sized the right electric vehicle (EV) charger infrastructure power levels based on overnight dwell time availability and daily energy usage. 

In addition to the master plan, we also delivered a complete basis of design package for the electrification infrastructure, utility medium voltage power upgrades, a new equipment maintenance facility, a new union hiring hall building, as well as a new classroom and education center for the local Argonaut maritime high school.

“The master plan and basis of design our team developed includes considerations for not just the correct vehicle and charging technologies for a zero-emission cargo handling fleet, but also addresses changing operational patterns of the port due to changing markets,” explains Jacobs Project Manager David Nguyen. “We explored scenarios for growth of cruise ship traffic, as well as growth of cargo ship traffic over the course of the entire year.”

Additionally, we provided critical stakeholder interactions to explore utility grid planning activities with Cleveland Public Power – such as energy capacity and demand modelling – which ultimately led to a clear path forward to obtain the necessary 5MW of power required by the port, with new utility connection and energization planned for early 2025.

“From early considerations to critical grid planning, we’ve collaborated with the Port of Cleveland to guide its journey toward decarbonization,” adds David. “It’s projects like these, where we can see our work contributing to a more sustainable future and enhanced quality of life in the communities we work and live, that make me proud to be part of our team at Jacobs.” 

…for a more resilient tomorrow

“I’ve worked closely with the Jacobs team over the last few years on developing a comprehensive electrification strategy for the Port of Cleveland,” says Port of Cleveland Senior Manager – Planning, Environment & Information Systems Carly Beck. “Through the team’s shared vision and efforts, the Port of Cleveland is on track to implement an ambitious electrification and decarbonization plan, making it a leader on the Great Lakes.”

Most recently, Jacobs collaborated with the port on a funding grant application for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program. We assisted in developing  the largest grant application in the port’s history with a $105 million budget, potentially bringing a huge influx of federal funding for electrification to Cleveland in 2024 to electrify over 50% of their current diesel equipment fleet – and paving the way for these crucial upgrades to take place.

“Our biggest opportunity to address climate change comes from the solutions we provide to our clients – from the world’s largest infrastructure programs to cutting-edge manufacturing and beyond,” adds Jacobs Senior Vice President Chrissy Thom. “We’ve embraced the focus on decarbonization across our transportation modes and port projects are no exception. Working with the Port of Cleveland, we’re not only charting a path toward more resilient operations, but also providing strategic, forward-looking advisory on developing trends that will shape the future of energy – from changing consumer behaviors and a rapidly evolving policy environment to the ever-increasing pace of change in the emerging digital and technology landscape.”

About ports & maritime at Jacobs

Our more than 650 in-house port and maritime professionals around the world have navigated some of the world’s largest and most complex programs, bringing in-depth understanding of the complex nature of maritime infrastructure. We provide clients with value-added consulting, planning and engineering services for maritime infrastructure development. We have developed long-term, trusted relationships with clients around the globe for work in the containerized, bulk, general cargo, energy, offshore wind, and cruise/ferry industries, as well as for port authorities, governments and some of the world’s leading naval forces.