What monitoring systems track energy efficiency across electrified terminal operations?
Modern electrified terminals require sophisticated monitoring systems to track energy consumption across diverse equipment types and operational zones. These systems capture real-time data from electric cranes, automated guided vehicles, reefer connections, and supporting infrastructure, enabling terminal operators to identify inefficiencies and optimise power usage. Effective energy monitoring supports both operational performance objectives and environmental reporting requirements whilst informing decisions about infrastructure investments and charging strategies.
What systems monitor energy consumption in electrified terminal operations?
Electrified terminals typically employ several integrated monitoring systems to capture energy data across different operational domains:
| System Type | Primary Function | Key Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| SCADA Systems | Real-time oversight of equipment status and power consumption patterns | Direct interface with equipment control systems, capturing operational parameters alongside energy consumption |
| Energy Management Systems (EMS) | Aggregate consumption data across terminal zones and equipment categories | Facility-wide visibility, identifying consumption patterns across quay operations, yard handling, gate processing, and auxiliary systems |
| Building Management Systems (BMS) | Monitor supporting infrastructure | Track lighting, climate control, and shore power installations |
| IoT Sensor Networks | Capture granular data from individual equipment units | Complement other platforms with detailed, equipment-level monitoring |
Each system type serves distinct monitoring functions within the terminal environment. SCADA systems interface directly with equipment control systems, capturing operational parameters alongside energy consumption. This integration allows terminals to correlate power usage with specific handling activities, vessel operations, or throughput volumes. Energy Management Systems process data from multiple sources to provide facility-wide visibility, identifying consumption patterns across quay operations, yard handling, gate processing, and auxiliary systems.
The distinction between real-time monitoring and historical analysis capabilities matters significantly for operational decision-making:
- Real-time systems enable immediate response to anomalous consumption patterns or equipment malfunctions that waste energy
- Historical data analysis reveals longer-term trends, supports business case development for efficiency investments, and provides the foundation for predictive maintenance strategies that prevent energy waste from degraded equipment performance
How do energy monitoring systems actually track efficiency across different terminal equipment?
Energy monitoring systems rely on strategically positioned sensors that measure electrical consumption at equipment level, circuit level, or zone level depending on the required granularity. These sensors transmit data through industrial communication protocols to centralised databases where consumption information is aggregated, analysed, and presented through operator interfaces. Integration with equipment control systems allows monitoring platforms to correlate energy consumption with operational variables including container load, travel distance, lifting height, and operating speed.
The tracking mechanisms differentiate between three key consumption categories:
- Operational energy use – During active container handling, systems record the energy required for specific moves, accounting for variables such as container weight and handling equipment type
- Idle consumption – Monitoring identifies energy waste when equipment remains powered but inactive
- Peak demand periods – Tracking supports decisions about load management and grid capacity requirements
Monitoring granularity varies according to terminal requirements and system sophistication:
| Monitoring Level | Scope | Primary Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Equipment | Specific crane or vehicle performance | Reveals maintenance needs or operational inefficiencies |
| Zone-Based | Operational areas (quay operations, yard handling, gate processing) | Aggregates consumption across functional terminal areas |
| Facility-Wide | Entire terminal operations | Supports strategic planning, ESG reporting, and business case assessments for electrification investments |
Detailed simulation analysis enables terminals to evaluate different equipment types, fleet sizes, and charging strategies before committing to infrastructure investments.
What data points should you monitor to improve terminal energy efficiency?
Terminal operators should prioritise monitoring the following critical data points:
Essential Performance Metrics
- Total energy consumption – Baseline measurement of overall power usage
- Normalised metrics – Consumption per container move or per tonne handled for meaningful performance comparisons across different operational periods, terminal configurations, or industry benchmarks
- Peak demand patterns – Reveal opportunities for load management strategies that reduce grid connection costs and improve infrastructure utilisation
- Equipment-specific consumption rates – Identify underperforming assets requiring maintenance or operational adjustment
Technical Efficiency Indicators
- Power factor measurements – Indicate how effectively terminals convert electrical supply into useful work, with poor power factor suggesting opportunities for electrical system optimisation
- Idle time energy waste – Quantifies consumption during non-productive periods, highlighting opportunities for equipment shutdown protocols or operational scheduling improvements
- Renewable energy contribution percentages – For terminals incorporating renewable generation or shore power, supports sustainability reporting and validates business case assumptions for green infrastructure investments
Different data points reveal distinct optimisation opportunities that support operational decision-making:
| Data Point | Optimisation Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Consumption per move metrics | Inform equipment selection decisions and operational strategy development |
| Peak demand analysis | Guide infrastructure planning and charging strategy optimisation for battery-electric equipment |
| Equipment-specific monitoring | Identify maintenance requirements before they significantly impact energy performance |
When integrated with operational data, energy monitoring supports the broader objective of reducing the approximately 12-16 per cent energy consumption that terminals can typically eliminate through operational improvements without requiring new technology investments. These opportunities directly address many of the industry challenges facing modern terminal operations.
How Portwise helps you optimise energy monitoring in terminal operations
We integrate energy efficiency considerations throughout our services, from initial terminal design through automation planning and operational improvement initiatives. Our methodology recognises that effective energy monitoring supports both immediate operational decisions and long-term strategic planning for container terminal electrification.
Our approach to energy optimisation includes:
- Simulation analysis incorporating energy consumption modelling – We use detailed, validated simulation models to evaluate power usage per move depending on vehicle types and dynamic operational variables including container load, speed, acceleration, and energy feedback from deceleration
- Monitoring battery status and power consumption over time – Our models replicate real-life operations across various scenarios including peak hours and average shift patterns, enabling quantification of impacts from different battery solutions and charging strategies on terminal performance
- Infrastructure requirement determination – Simulation outcomes inform decisions about equipment fleet size, vehicle battery capacity, charger numbers and locations, and power grid supply requirements
- Operational strategy optimisation – We identify optimal charging strategies tailored to each terminal’s specific conditions, supporting CAPEX and OPEX financial analyses for informed decision-making
Our data-driven methodology connects automation design decisions with long-term energy performance outcomes. This approach helps terminals move beyond simply purchasing electric equipment to developing operationally viable automation solutions that deliver both performance and efficiency objectives across the facility lifecycle. Portwise Consultancy provides the expertise needed to transform energy monitoring data into actionable strategies for sustainable terminal operations.
If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to our team of experts today.