POTENT-X Annual Conference 2026
The Future of Port Energy Is Coming to Shore
Ports are among the most complex nodes in the global energy system. They are industrial hubs, logistics gateways, and increasingly, frontlines in the fight against climate change. Yet the path toward cleaner, more resilient port infrastructure is rarely straight. It requires coordinated policy, engaged stakeholders, smart digitalization, and financing structures that can weather uncertainty.
On May 6, the POTENT-X Annual Conference 2026 brings together the researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working to chart exactly that course.
Setting Sail: What the Conference Will Cover
The afternoon opens with remarks from Prof. Aykut I. Ölçer, Director of WMU Research, followed by an introduction to the POTENT-X project by Prof. Sonia Yeh — setting the compass for everything that follows.
Policy and Stakeholder Analysis Understanding the regulatory seabed beneath port energy transition is essential before any vessel can move. Asst. Prof. Christopher Dirzka will present findings from POTENT-X’s policy analysis, while Dr. Anas Alamoush maps the stakeholder landscape — who holds influence, who bears risk, and who needs to be brought on board.
Digitalization Ports generate enormous amounts of data, but translating that into actionable intelligence requires infrastructure and buy-in. Asst. Prof. Charalampos ‘Haris’ Orfanidis will explore what stakeholders actually need from digitalization — and what stands in the way of getting there.
The Industrial Lens Theory only takes you so far. Dr. Benedicte Madon will present the living lab methodology as a vehicle for real-world port energy transition, followed by a concrete case study from Mr. Lars Jøker at the Port of Aalborg — a port already testing the waters of what a green transition looks like in practice.
Global Efforts Energy transition doesn’t look the same in every port. Adj. Prof. Mark Clintworth will tackle the financing side — how do ports, particularly in vulnerable regions, secure the capital needed to build resilience? And Mr. Stephen Nanan, Director of MTCC Caribbean, will bring a perspective that often goes unheard in global forums: the distinct challenges facing small island developing states, where the impacts of inaction arrive faster, and the margin for error is smaller.
Why This Matters Now
The maritime sector is at an inflection point. International pressure to decarbonize shipping is intensifying, port operators are being asked to do more with less, and the energy transition is exposing deep inequities between well-resourced ports and those operating at the margins. POTENT-X exists to build the knowledge and tools that help navigate all of this — and the Annual Conference is where that work surfaces into public view.
Whether you work in port operations, energy policy, maritime research, or sustainable finance, this is a conversation worth joining.
