Energy Management in Ports : a Systematic Literature Review of KPIs

(1) Background: The efficient use of energy in ports is crucial for the decarbonization of logistic facilities, which is currently an important theme mainly due to the contribution of the shipping industry to the emission of greenhouse gases, and the urgent need to reduce them in every possible branch of industrial activity. In order to efficiently utilize energy resources it is essential to try to consider a set of metrics or indicators, particularly those pertinent to the environmental component in the context of the sustainability of ports. (2) Methods: This study presents a systematic literature review, employing the PRISMA2020 methodology, aimed at producing a consistent set of key performance indicators (KPI) currently in use in the field. Searches were performed in the following databases: Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore and Emerald Insight. The narrowing of the search was done by filtering articles from peer-reviewed journals from the last 5 years. (3) Results: The search identified 333 articles, with 35 meeting the inclusion criteria. The findings are summarized as a consistent list of KPIs, along with their descriptions, so they can be useful for future research in the field. (4) Conclusions: The attained KPIs cover not only traditional metrics such as GHG emissions or fuel consumption, but also more modern indicators, recently enforced by international organizations, regulatory bodies and governments, such as energy efficiency or use of renewable energy. This study can serve as a reference for researchers, practitioners, and technology developers by highlighting the need to harmonise energy performance evaluation-practices in ports and aligning them with global decarbonisation goals.