Entergy Louisiana partners with ECO on utility scale shore power project
As a means of lowering emissions along the Gulf Coast and beginning the swap from fossil fuel power, Energy Louisiana and Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) have teamed up to build the first utility-scale shore power installation in Port Fourchon, La.
That port provides has a hand in nearly 20 percent of the U.S. oil supply, and by turning to shore power — an electrification product developed by Entergy’s innovation department, KeyString Labs –, the companies hope to push forward sustainability goals while still serving the local community. Current predictions hold that shore power in Entergy’s service areas could reduce its carbon emissions by as much as 42 percent, sulfur oxides emissions by 48 percent, and nitrogen oxides emissions by 98 percent, at least when comparing emissions rates of marine diesel oil to the company’s at-the-plug emissions rate.
“We’ve been a significant part of the clean-energy dialogue for more than two decades,” Leo Denault, chairman and CEO of Entergy Corporation, said. “Our customer and community expectations are rapidly changing across a wide variety of areas, including the reduction of greenhouse gasses, and this is an example of how we can help meet those evolving needs. With utility-scale shore power, our company is once again on the leading edge of the industry, and we’re continuing to do it the right way.”
Through this project, Entergy Louisiana intends to extend its local distribution system to accommodate 10 ECO marine vessels at port simultaneously. This is where ECO’s technology comes in, as it allows marine vessels to transition from fossil fuel generated ship power to cleaner electric grid power.
“We’re proud to partner with Entergy Louisiana on what could become a model for ports across the world by adding value for customers and communities through significant emissions reductions. It’s a win for everyone,” Dino Chouest, executive vice president of ECO, said.
