AIDAnova leads Copenhagen’s Green Port Revolution
In a historic step toward the maritime sector’s energy transition, a new shore power infrastructure for cruise ships was inaugurated in Copenhagen on June 2, 2025.
The facility, located at the Oceankaj cruise terminal, was officially inaugurated by His Majesty King Frederik X of Denmark, in the presence of EU Commissioner for Energy and Buildings Dan Jørgensen and Danish Minister for Transport Thomas Danielsen. The spotlight was on AIDAnova, the first cruise ship to be connected to the shore power grid in the Danish capital.
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With the activation of this new facility, Copenhagen becomes the 14th European port where AIDA Cruises ships can utilize shore power. This technology allows docked ships to switch off their main engines, drastically reducing emissions and significantly lowering environmental impact.
With 73 scheduled calls by five AIDA ships in 2025 alone, Copenhagen is emerging as one of AIDA Cruises’ most strategic cruise hubs in Northern Europe. Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, emphasized that the inauguration of the shore power plant marks a significant milestone in the region’s maritime energy transition. He reaffirmed the company’s 2022 commitment with Cruise Baltic partners, highlighting AIDA’s concrete support for the European Union’s goal of making all major European ports shore-power compatible by 2030.
Barbara Scheel Agersnap, CEO of the Copenhagen-Malmö Port, also stressed the strategic importance of the infrastructure in the context of environmental sustainability. She confirmed that the initiative aligns perfectly with the port’s green vision, which includes using exclusively non-fossil energy for all operations and achieving net-zero emissions by 2025.
AIDA Cruises played a key role in the project’s development, actively participating in technical testing with its vessel AIDAnova. Experience gained in ports such as Hamburg, Kiel, Warnemünde, Oslo, Southampton, Rotterdam, and Stockholm contributed to the efficient implementation of the facility in Copenhagen.
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In 2024 alone, AIDA powered its ships with shore electricity at 360 port calls — five times more than the previous year. In 2025, thanks to new installations, over 500 shore-powered calls are expected, allowing the company to use this sustainable energy source in nearly half of its Northern Europe stops. But AIDA Cruises’ environmental commitment goes beyond shore power: the company also invests in alternative energy sources like batteries, biofuels, and synthetic fuels, aiming for a zero-emission future. The shared target with Carnival Corporation & plc is clear: to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The inauguration of the shore power facility in Copenhagen marks a crucial achievement in the sustainable transformation of European maritime tourism. With AIDAnova as the pioneering vessel, AIDA Cruises reaffirms its leadership in adopting eco-friendly technologies, showing that innovation, business, and environmental protection can go hand in hand. The future of cruising depends on tangible initiatives like this, where institutions, cruise lines, and ports collaborate to build a greener, more responsible maritime industry.
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