The Port of San Diego has selected Canadian technology company VoltSafe Inc. to participate in its Blue Economy Incubator, awarding the firm $250,000 USD for a pilot programme aimed at enhancing sustainable shore power systems in marinas.
The pilot will take place in Southern California, a region recognised as a major recreational boating hub and a leader in clean-tech adoption. The initiative forms part of its commitment to building a sustainable ocean economy, with a focus on projects that deliver social, environmental and economic benefits to the region.
The Blue Economy Incubator supports businesses by offering funding, pilot project facilitation and resources such as entitlement and permitting assistance. It aims to remove barriers for entrepreneurs while encouraging innovations that contribute to a cleaner and more efficient waterfront.
Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, stated: “Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation, it’s powered by people with vision, creativity and courage to challenge the status quo. Through our Blue Economy Incubator, the Port of San Diego is proud to support forward-thinking entrepreneurs who are turning bold ideas into real-world solutions and creating a more sustainable waterfront for all.”
VoltSafe will use the funding to demonstrate its patented shore power hardware and software-as-a-service platform. Designed to replace traditional electrical plugs, the system eliminates prongs, uses magnets and incorporates an “electrical fingerprint” for improved safety and ease of use.
VoltSafe CEO & Co-Founder, Trevor Burgess said: “The Port of San Diego’s Blue Economy Incubator is a global first, and partnering with them signals more than a milestone, it’s proof that VoltSafe’s patented shore power hardware and SaaS platform isn’t just raising the bar, it’s rewriting the standard. Legacy solutions can’t deliver the environmental, economic and social returns we can. As the marine industry races toward smarter, low-carbon infrastructure, this collaboration positions VoltSafe at the centre of that transformation. Together with the Port’s forward-thinking team, we’re not just keeping pace with change, we’re driving it, and scaling it, across the global waterfront economy.”
The Port of San Diego manages 34 miles of waterfront across five cities in California. Its Blue Economy programme is seen as a key driver for innovation in the marine sector, with projects spanning cargo and cruise terminals, marinas, public parks and environmental initiatives.
