Energy Transition in Ports

Energy transition in ports is not only about environmental issues. It also offers economic, health, and social benefits. It prepares ports for a sustainable and prosperous future and fulfills their role as key drivers of trade and economic growth.

This TrainForTrade online course supports the energy transition of ports, offering a methodology and a review of existing technologies.

Modules:

• Concepts and impacts resulting from the use of fossil fuels
• Explanation of basic concepts
  Externalities of the energy transition
  Climate change
• Methodology for energy transition in ports
• Stages of the process
  Concrete objectives
  Planning & implementation
• Carbon footprint
• Calculation of carbon footprint
  Emission sources
  Consumption types
• Available technologies
• Low-carbon fuels
  Renewable energy production
  Electricity supply to ships
• Success stories
• Six case studies of successful energy transition in ports: Itaqui, Los Angeles and Long Beach, Marseille, Mauritius, Singapore and Valencia

Material:

The five-week course includes case studies, practical exercises, multimedia presentations, role game session, discussion forum, and webinar.

Target Population

• Port authorities
• Private port companies
• Port community operators
• Port agents
• Ministries and authorities

The first delivery of the ETP course was conducted in Spanish from April to June 2026. It engaged 544 participants from 31 countries; 47% of participants were women. Participants were extremely satisfied with the content of this new course; the overall satisfaction rate was 96%.

Participants found it very useful to learn practical success stories about energy transition in ports.

“The course stands out for its ability to transform complex technical concepts into strategic management tools. Global success stories, such as Singapore, Valencia, and Marseille, demonstrate how a port can evolve into a true hub of knowledge and energy, leading decarbonization not only at sea but throughout its broader area of influence”, said Ms. Cintia Pamela Pastrana from Argentina.

“Today more than ever, the energy transition in the port sector requires constant regulatory updates and, above all, an unwavering ethical commitment. For this reason, we take away from UNCTAD not only cutting-edge methodological tools, but also the firm conviction that global governance models must be adaptive and aligned with the local realities of each country”, mentioned Ms. Jorgelina Ramírez Zabaleta from Venezuela.