The second largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam, Rotterdam boasts the largest port in Europe — and until recently held the title for the largest port on earth. However, it also has another sizable distinction — its CO2 emissions are equal to those of New York, a city with a population more than 10 times greater. Due to that oversized carbon footprint, the Port of Rotterdam, which encompasses about one-third of the greater Rotterdam municipality, has just partnered with GE to find innovative technology solutions that will help turn the bustling commercial hub into a sustainable one.
Their ship’s come in: The agreement is closely tied to GE’s ecomagination and healthymagination initiatives, both of which help meet sustainability goals. Under ecomagination, GE develops solutions and technologies that are energy-efficient while healthymagination works to drive costs out of the system while simultaneously improving quality of care and increasing access. Pictured above is the Port of Rotterdam, seen when the Emma Mærsk is being unloaded. When launched in 2006, it was the largest container ship ever built. Photo: Vincent Jannink/AFP/Getty Images.
The new strategic alliance will focus on GE ecomagination technologies and solutions in areas such as water management and re-use, energy efficiency and emissions reduction. The first effort out of the gate will involve creating a pilot smart grid project in the port of Rotterdam. Officials expect that there will soon be an increase in renewable energy production in the port area – and the first phase of the project will tackle the challenge of how to best adapt the electricity infrastructure to meet the changes.
The agreement comes at a time when emissions generated from Rotterdam and the neighboring German Ruhr region are the highest in Europe. The issue led to the creation of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative, which has set the aggressive target of reducing CO2 emission by 50 percent by 2025 when compared to 1990 levels. Proposals currently being discussed to help meet that goal include developing a major Carbon Capture and Storage program by 2015; driving energy efficiency in businesses, homes and government facilities; and requiring the city council to make 75 percent of its purchases of goods and services be environmentally-friendly.
As we described in our story this summer about GE’s sustainable cities road show, the work envisioned for Rotterdam, as with cities elsewhere, is designed to leverage a number of GE technologies and areas of expertise and create a coordinated solution on a large scale. It’s hoped that successes in one city can then be applied to other cities facing similar issues. Similarly, GE currently has four projects – in France, Italy, Spain and Hungary – that are among the first to be awarded “Benchmark of Excellence” status under the European Commission’s sustainable energy technology initiative. “We see tremendous potential for exploring local and international business opportunities, while using the port of Rotterdam as a demonstration site and vehicle for innovation and sustainable development,” said Mark Elborne, Regional Executive for North Europe.
On course: Jeff Immelt, GE’s Chairman and CEO, visited Rotterdam in October to meet with city officials. He’s seen here in the control Room of the Port. With much of Rotterdam’s workforce commuting in, officials also hope that the new innovation projects will also improve the local quality of life and result in more people calling Rotterdam home.
* Learn more about Rotterdam’s goals to reduce emissions
* Read “GE’s “sustainable cities” road show tours Europe”
* Read “Google & GE call for home energy info in Copenhagen”
* Learn about four GE cities projects that received “Benchmark of Excellence” awards
* Learn about Europe’s biggest initiative to reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions
* Learn more about the European road show
* Learn more about GE’s work on “Building Sustainable Cities”