Future Ports as Energy Hubs: Integrated Framework for Renewable Energy Planning, Storage, and Sector Coupling

Ports are progressively evolving from traditional logistics nodes into integrated energy ecosystems, characterised by increasing electrification of maritime and land-based op-erations, the deployment of renewable energy sources, and the emergence of new and highly variable energy demand profiles. In this context, the main challenge is not only the availability of renewable energy but also the capacity of port energy systems to provide sufficient electrical power, flexibility, and resilience under increasing opera-tional constraints. These issues are particularly relevant in Mediterranean ports, where limited grid capacity, infrastructure constraints, load variability, and interactions with surrounding urban areas strongly influence energy planning strategies. This paper proposes an integrated framework for the development of sustainable port energy hubs based on renewable generation, energy storage, green hydrogen systems, port mi-crogrids, and intelligent energy management strategies. The proposed approach aims to optimise the interaction between energy production, distribution, storage, and con-sumption, with particular attention to the role of hydrogen as a long-duration energy storage vector and as an energy carrier for selected port logistics applications. Medi-terranean ports are considered as reference environments for the analysis and valida-tion of the framework, focusing on high-traffic infrastructures characterised by signif-icant electrification challenges. Through data-driven analysis, dynamic modelling, and optimisation techniques, the proposed framework supports the planning and opera-tion of resilient port energy systems while reducing emissions associated with mari-time and port activities.