Socio-Economic Benefits of Implementing Shore-Side Electricity in Northwest Italian Ports

Port operations, including berthed ships' emissions, pose significant health and environmental challenges, particularly in densely populated port cities. This article presents an innovative analysis of the socio-economic benefits derived from the implementation of Shore-Side Electricity (SSE) in northwest Italian ports, set against a backdrop of increasing national and EU support for this green initiative. This research extends the traditional evaluation of SSE beyond technical and economic feasibility by introducing a comprehensive approach that factors in externality costs associated with air pollution. The analysis draws on literature and disaggregated emission inventories to estimate avoided emissions of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants (e.g., nitrogen and sulphur oxides) resulting from the adoption of SSE. The results reveal that SSE significantly curbs berthed pollution, translating into substantial savings in terms of avoided external costs for port cities. Consequently, this study provides an environmentally-grounded perspective to guide future port investment strategies, highlighting the potential of SSE as a crucial tool in port emission reduction and community health protection.