UniCredit Funds Ravenna Solar-Powered Cold-Ironing

• UniCredit backs a EUR 22.6M green solar project at Ravenna Port, powering cold ironing for cruise ships with 53 GWh annually—cutting over 18,000 tonnes CO2 yearly.

UniCredit agreed to provide EUR 22.6 million in green financing for a 37.2-MWp photovoltaic project at the Port of Ravenna in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. The solar farm forms part of a wider port decarbonisation effort aimed at cutting emissions from maritime and logistics operations.

The plant will supply a cold ironing system that lets docked cruise ships plug into renewable shore power instead of using diesel onboard generators. It is expected to generate about 53 GWh of electricity annually, enough for roughly 20,000 Italian households, and could reduce CO2 emissions by more than 18,000 tonnes per year, positioning the project as a key renewable and sustainable maritime infrastructure milestone.

How will UniCredit’s €22.6M green financing cut port emissions via Ravenna solar and shore power?

• UniCredit’s €22.6 million green financing will support the development of a 37.2‑MWp solar plant at the Port of Ravenna, providing a large, renewable electricity source to underpin port electrification efforts.
  
• The solar electricity will be used to help power shore-side systems—most importantly the port’s cold ironing infrastructure—so ships can draw electricity while docked rather than running diesel generators.
  
• Cold ironing replaces a major in-port emissions source: onboard auxiliary engines used to supply power for hotel loads (lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, galley equipment, and other onboard services).
  
• Using shore power reduces local air pollutants as well as greenhouse-gas emissions because diesel combustion is avoided while vessels are berthed.
• The project is designed to enable cruise ships to connect to renewable shore power through the docked “cold ironing” setup, improving air quality in the port area for residents and workers.
  
• With an estimated annual generation of about 53 GWh, the solar farm contributes meaningful clean electricity to the port’s overall power balance, supporting frequent ship calling and planned electrified operations.
  
• The reported emissions benefit (more than 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year) stems from displacing the electricity that would otherwise be produced by onboard diesel generation during docking periods.
  
• By strengthening the renewable supply available to the port, the solar-plus-shore-power approach helps the Port of Ravenna scale decarbonisation beyond one vessel type, supporting broader maritime electrification over time.
  
• The renewable generation capacity also helps future-proof the port: as more vessels adopt shore power, the port has additional clean electricity to meet increasing demand.
• In practical operational terms, the combination of Ravenna solar generation and cold ironing infrastructure shifts the port’s energy profile toward renewable electricity for maritime logistics activities associated with docked vessels.