AI-enabled smart energy management systems can forecast vessel arrivals, balance grid loads, and optimise when OPS or hydrogen fuel cells should kick in. Research suggests AI can reduce energy wastage by 15–20% in hybrid port energy systems (arXiv, 2025).

For example, Rotterdam is piloting AI-driven OPS scheduling, while Valencia is deploying predictive analytics to align OPS demand with solar and wind inputs. Combined with 6G connectivity, ports could soon evolve into fully automated, low-carbon ecosystems.

For policy makers, the question is not “if” but “how fast” AI should be adopted in regulation. For suppliers, it opens new markets in digital-energy solutions beyond hardware.

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