When transitioning to green energy in small and medium-sized port ecosystems (SMEs), the most important thing is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and reduce the impact of industry on aquatic ecosystems. This change requires not only technological but also managerial solutions – the first step on this path is self-assessment.
Today, ports around the world are becoming not only logistics and trade hubs, but also leaders in the circular economy, sustainability, and digitalization. Given the goals of the European Green Deal and growing environmental requirements, the port sector needs clear guidelines to help it move purposefully towards green transformation.
That is why self-assessment becomes an essential tool for understanding the current situation, evaluating energy efficiency and environmental impact, and discovering opportunities for improvement. This is the starting point for achieving the strategic goal of creating a sustainable, competitive, and climate-neutral port.
To achieve this goal, the Interreg South Baltic Program project DigiTechPort2030 presents the Green Compass methodology – an innovative, structured, and practical tool for assessing the progress of port sustainability and planning further steps in a targeted manner.
Europe – towards a green course: Fit for 55 and Green Deal commitments
The European Green Deal has set a clear goal – by 2050, Europe must become the first climate-neutral continent. One of the key steps towards this goal is the Fit for 55 package of measures, which requires a reduction of at least 55% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Maritime transport is included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), which means that every ship and every port terminal must assess its sources of emissions and take measures to reduce them. Such changes inevitably affect smaller ports as well – they must be prepared not only to adapt, but also to take advantage of new opportunities.
DigiTechPort2030 – a green roadmap for Baltic ports
The European Union’s Interreg South Baltic program project DigiTechPort2030 continues the successful Connect2SmallPorts initiative and takes another step towards a more integrated, data-driven, and sustainable port ecosystem. The aim of the project is to develop practical tools and guidelines to help small and medium-sized ports implement green transformation and prepare for EU requirements for 2030-2050.
By the end of 2026, the project, whose partners are universities, port authorities and other port companies operating in the South Baltic region (Wismar University, KSTP, Motus Foundation, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Maritime University of Szczecin, Elblag Sea Port Authority, EURO-TERMINAL REAL ESTATE Swinoujscie), aims to provide small and medium-sized ports with two solutions: a green energy harmonisation toolkit and an EU green policy compliance action plan.
Contribution of Klaipėda Science and Technology Park
Klaipėda Science and Technology Park (KSTP) is one of the main developers of the Green Compass methodology. KSTP experts, who have many years of experience in the field of maritime innovation ecosystem development, enlisted the help of external experts to contribute to the creation of the methodology structure, evaluation criteria, and digital tools.
Their insights helped to make the methodology not only scientifically sound, but also a practical tool that truly responds to the needs of ports – from data collection to decision-making on sustainable infrastructure investments.
The Green Compass – a guide to assessing port sustainability
The self-assessment methodology developed by KSTP allows each port to systematically assess its progress in five areas:
- Strategy – do the port’s operational plans, documents, and objectives reflect the direction of EU green policy.
- Management – are managers and employees ready for transformation, are there centers of responsibility and a training system in place.
- Infrastructure – does the port have or plan to have renewable energy sources, is the infrastructure adapted to electric vehicles.
- Superstructure – whether the port’s technology, equipment, and loading processes are powered by green energy.
- External participants – how partners are involved in the process: carriers, terminal operators, suppliers, shipping companies.
The tool helps to mathematically assess the port’s ecological footprint – for example, the amount of CO₂ emissions per ton of cargo or passenger. Based on this data, each port receives an individual sustainability profile and recommendations for further steps.
Invitation to ports: self-assess and move forward
Klaipėda Science and Technology Park invites all ports in the South Baltic region to use the Green Compass methodology and conduct a self-assessment. This is the first and most important step towards responsible, data-driven sustainability.
Each port that self-assesses according to the Green Compass methodology contributes to the common goal of cleaner seas, a healthier environment and a more competitive Europe. Green transformation is not just a vision of the future – it is a process that starts here and now.
Ports that self-assess according to this system receive not only their sustainability profile, but also the opportunity to consult with the DigiTechPort2030 expert team, which helps to create an action plan – from small optimizations to strategic innovation projects. Ports also find themselves on a digital map where they can compare their indicators with data from other ports. The project aims to transfer good practices to ports and provide high-quality expert advice on improving indicators and preparing for change.
“The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of its author(s) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union, the Managing Authority or the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027.”
