The Madeira Ports Authority (APRAM), one of Shift2DC Portuguese partners, is planning to install a DC/DC charging system for electric vehicles – including a forklift – by the end of October. The announcement was made on September 17th during a demo site meeting in Funchal, attended by Portuguese partners and APRAM’s CEO, Paula Cabaço.
The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the next steps for the Portuguese demo site, which will soon be installed at Funchal Port. Its primary objective is to explore the potential of direct current (DC) solutions in ports, supported by the development of a Digital Twin of the Funchal Port.
Participants from the Shift2DC consortium included Diogo Reis and Lucas Pereira from ITI, who is the project Demo Leader; Pedro Costa and Hugo Morais from INESC-ID, the project coordinator institution; Carlos Castro together with two other representatives from APRAM, José Fernandes, e Patricia Bairrada; and Carlos Cardoso and Motaz Ayiad from EDP.
The system installed in the Portuguese Demo will use only renewable energy, integrating solar panels, a storage battery, and a DC charging station, connected to Madeira’s AC electricity grid.
In the project’s first phase, data on energy consumption and quality were collected. These findings are now being used to develop the Digital Twin of Funchal Port, a tool designed to provide real-time monitoring of energy flows and to simulate future scenarios. The Digital Twin will also support the integration of innovative technologies such as Onshore Power Supply (OPS), enabling ships to connect directly to renewable electricity while docked. Preliminary studies indicate that a 30 MW connection could be sufficient to meet the energy demands of large vessels.
After the meeting, APRAM President Paula Cabaço highlighted once more the importance of this initiative and the project’s role in advancing clean, innovative energy solutions, contributing to a future renewable energy community centered around Funchal Port.
The official launch of the Portuguese demonstrator site will take place on January 27–28, 2026, during the next Shift2DC General Assembly, which will bring consortium partners together in Madeira.
News in the Media: Supply Chain Magazine, T News, Turisver.
Photo credits: APRAM
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