Overview
- Marseille's port, which switched on the system Saturday, now lets docked cruise ships cut their engines.
- The setup can power three ships at once with 16 megawatts per vessel, roughly the demand of a 13,000-person town.
- Port officials say the electricity is fully renewable and produced by photovoltaic panels.
- Local monitors expect a 28% drop in nitrogen oxides from ships at berth, easing exposure for nearby residents.
- Analysts warn uptake may lag because plugging in is optional and power can cost more than fuel, with Toulon seeing only 20 of 1,200 calls connect last year.