Conference Agenda

In maritime logistics, container terminals serve as critical nodes for global trade but are facing intense pressure to mitigate their environmental footprint due to stringent climate policies in context of climate warming. Traditional transport and handling equipment heavily rely on diesel engines, making container terminal operations a primary source of localized greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. To address these challenges, transitioning toward electrified equipment has emerged as a key pathway to increasing energy efficiency while achieving localized zero-emission operations.

This paper provides a systematic literature review that outlines the basic framework for the electrification of container terminals. Given the recent breakthroughs in heavy-duty battery storage, smart grid integration, and automated charging systems, the academic and practical landscape has evolved rapidly. This study maps out newly emerged technological pathways, evaluates current operational challenges, and provides strategic recommendations for container terminal operators.

Following the PRISMA framework, a systematic review was conducted across major academic databases. The literature is classified based on key operational units (e.g., Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes, Automated Guided Vehicles, and mobile yard equipment) and primary electrification dimensions, including grid-connected power supplies, hybrid powertrains, and fully battery-electric energy storage systems.

The analysis reveals a significant acceleration in research addressing fully battery-powered mobile equipment and dynamic charging strategies. While grid-connected solutions remain dominant for heavy cranes, recent publications increasingly focus on decentralized charging station placement within transport zones to maximize operational uptime. Furthermore, the review identifies key research streams concerning peak shaving via ultracapacitors, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities providing primary frequency control, and automated battery swapping.

The paper concludes with an integrated action framework that aligns equipment electrification with port automation and digitalization. Terminal operators are provided with strategic insights regarding infrastructure dimensioning, the utilization of off-peak electricity tariffs, and layout-dependent charging optimization. Ultimately, this study bridges current research gaps by providing a holistic, up-to-date guide for transitioning to sustainable, low-carbon container terminal operations.