Forecasting and Reporting Onshore Power Demand (OPS)
Port of Antwerp-Bruges Challenge #2
The Challenge
By 2030, terminals at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges must provide Onshore Power Supply (OPS) for container and cruise ships. As terminals will be responsible for building and operating these OPS connections, POAB needs to report OPS electricity consumption. Besides, the portwants to ensure grid capacity is ensured when vessels are mooring and wants to be able to forecast future demand to drive flexibility and effective collaboration with grid operators like Elia.
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Today, no large-scale OPS infrastructure or real-world data points exist yet - making predictive modeling and reinforced learning capabilities critical.
We’re seeking partners that can help predict, monitor, and report OPS electricity demand and consumption, based on vessel planning, historical patterns, and operational data.
What we're looking for
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Predictive platforms that can forecast OPS electricity demand and consumption (MWh, MW).
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Systems that gather data from port call schedules, vessel types, historical behaviors, and other operational inputs.
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Prediction on expected (peak) power to be supplied and coupled with reinforced learning engines that adapt and improve forecasts as more OPS usage data becomes available.
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Tools that translate OPS demand into actionable insights for grid operators.
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Ability to collect and integrate data from different sources (port planning, vessel characteristics, operational logs).
Must-haves​
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Predictive and reinforced learning models aligned with real-world OPS behavior.
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Near real-time anticipation of power demand based on evolving vessel planning.
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Technological maturity: ideally TRL 7 or higher.
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Ability to support reporting requirements for grid operators and authorities.
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Prior experience working with Onshore Power Supply (OPS) projects.
Nice to have
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Existing connections or integration experience with grid operators like Elia or Fluvius.
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Ability to visualize OPS demand trends and forecast flexibility needs dynamically.
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Solely focuses on hardware grid balancing solutions without predictive software capabilities.
Not a fit
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Is only an OPS hardware provider without data integration or prediction functionalities.
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Cannot anticipate OPS demand based on vessel planning.
Ideal Applicants
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Predictive analytics companies with expertise in energy demand forecasting or port operations.
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Startups or scaleups specializing in industrial AI, smart energy management, or reinforced learning systems.
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Solution providers experienced in working with complex, multi-terminal logistics environments.
What Succes looks like
An intelligent forecasting and reporting platform that allows the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to report OPS consumption, anticipate OPS power needs in real-time, plan for grid flexibility with operators like Elia, and support the energy transition of maritime operations at scale.
The Challenger
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is Europe's second largest port and a driver of the circular economy and energy transition. Port of Antwerp-Bruges consists of two complementary port areas: Antwerp on both banks of the Scheldt and Zeebrugge on the North Sea. With connections to more than 800 destinations, it connects the European continent to the rest of the world. It is an important lifeline for the Belgian economy, generating 72,600 direct jobs and no less than €20 billion in added value.