Companies located at Danish ports and in other industrial clusters have a unique potential for major energy savings, reduced climate footprint, and new revenue opportunities. This is the conclusion of the EFFORT project, which was completed at the end of 2025. With the Port of Hirtshals as the focal point, EFFORT has documented how companies at the port can achieve savings of up to 36% of the electricity bill through data-driven management. 

"For the Port of Hirtshals' largest players, the documented savings correspond to an annual figure in the tens of millions. At the same time, the results show that the intelligent energy solutions we have tested here have a great potential to be spread to other Danish ports and industrial clusters with a similar effect," says Birgitte Bak-Jensen, professor at Aalborg University.

Collaboration at the port makes the difference

The EFFORT project differs from previous energy projects by focusing on the entire port as a single energy cluster, where, for example, cold stores, the fishing industry, aquaculture, pumping plants, and logistics companies can potentially share electricity consumption data via a common digital platform. Together with insights into the companies' facilities, insight into data makes it possible to shift energy consumption to times of cheap and green power - and at the same time act more flexibly in relation to the electricity market by minimizing the load on the electricity grid, and thus possibly affecting tariffs.

"When companies introduce intelligent control systems, they can both reduce their energy consumption, relieve the electricity grid, optimise operations, and reduce mechanical wear on the plants so that the service life is extended, while at the same time making their flexibility available to the electricity market. This not only provides cash savings, but also opens up completely new ways to generate revenue," says Zenia Lagoni, consultant at the Danish Technological Institute.

Concrete results from the port

In addition to optimising current operations, the EFFORT project has analysed a number of future scenarios for the Port of Hirtshals towards 2030. The analyses show how the port can develop into an integrated, green energy hub with significant synergy effects between industry, transport and the energy sector.

Among other things, the project has modelled the economic and technical consequences of major future projects such as electrification of ferry operations, Power-to-X, CO2 storage, and expansion with wind power and batteries.

"We have launched a digital tool for all companies in Hirtshals, which provides a comprehensive overview of the company's supply data and thus constitutes a solid basis for decision-making to optimise both operations and finances. The tool provides a live overview, support for choosing the most advantageous electricity contract, as well as the opportunity to optimise local control of plants based on electricity prices, grid tariffs, and weather data. This makes it possible for companies to consume energy when it is cheapest and most sustainable," says Jonas Ilum Sørensen, Business Development Manager at Greenport North.

Contact

Aalborg University
Professor Birgitte Bak-Jensen
bbj@energy.aau.dk

Danish Technological Institute
Zenia Lagoni
zenl@teknologisk.dk