Industry Briefing: V2X Energy Technology Edges Toward Maritime Shore Power Applications

## Maritime Industry Briefing ### V2X Technology Pilot Signals Broader Energy Transition Trends While primarily targeting residential energy users, a new vehicle-to-everything (V2X) pilot program in Massachusetts is drawing attention from energy planners tracking electrification trends relevant to port and maritime shore power infrastructure. Montreal-based energy technology company dcbel has announced its participation in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's (MassCEC) V2X Pilot Program, deploying its dcbel Ara bidirectional charging system in collaboration with partners TMH, Resource Innovation, and B2Q, according to a PR Newswire release dated August 11, 2026. Eligible electric vehicle owners with bidirectional charging capability can apply to receive the dcbel Ara unit at no cost under the program. The initiative is designed to test the viability of using EV batteries as distributed energy resources — allowing electricity to flow not just into vehicles, but back out to homes or the grid during periods of peak demand or outages. **Relevance to the Maritime Sector** For maritime industry observers, the significance lies in the underlying technology rather than the residential application. Bidirectional power management is a core challenge in port electrification projects, where vessels at berth require reliable, high-capacity shore power connections. The same V2X principles being tested in Massachusetts — managing energy flows between mobile battery assets and fixed infrastructure — are directly applicable to cold ironing systems and hybrid ferry operations. Port authorities and terminal operators across North America and Europe are actively investing in shore power infrastructure to reduce vessel emissions at berth, driven by tightening regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and regional authorities including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union's FuelEU Maritime regulation. As grid-scale battery storage and bidirectional charging technology matures through programs like MassCEC's pilot, costs are expected to decline — a development that could accelerate the business case for advanced shore power systems at commercial ports. **Looking Ahead** The MassCEC program represents one of a growing number of state-level clean energy initiatives in the United States that are stress-testing bidirectional energy infrastructure at scale. Results from such pilots are expected to inform utility planning, building codes, and — increasingly — port energy management strategies as the maritime industry works toward its decarbonization targets. *Sources: PR Newswire, MassCEC program documentation.*