HANGZHOU — Public ports along China’s Grand Canal will all be able to provide shore-side electrical power for docking ships in the next two years.

The Ministry of Transport, National Energy Administration and State Grid Corporation of China on Sept 25 signed an agreement to install shore power facilities along the Grand Canal, which runs over 2,500 km from Beijing to Hangzhou.

The facilities will also be installed in ports on the east coast and along the Yangtze River.

Shore power can reduce noise and save diesel a ship burns while it stays at berth.

Emission from ships constitutes a big chunk of global air pollution.

The 130 small shore power facilities installed on three ports along the Grand Canal in Zhejiang province could cut carbon dioxide emissions by 3,950 tons and reduce fuel consumption by 1,250 tons a year.

The state grid company has more than 600 shore power facilities in ports.