The Port of Oakland has announced the approval of a US$2m contract for the design of a clean energy project at the Oakland Seaport.
The project will see the installation of a complete electrical infrastructure including solar generation, battery storage systems, a fuel cell, and the replacement of a substation and connecting electrical circuits.
Engineering, design and consulting company Burns & McDonnell has been hired by the Port to carry out the necessary design work and construction drawing of the proposed electrical infrastructure and its components. Many of the systems use sustainable technology and resiliency features.
The design work will form the first step toward the construction of a new substation and surrounding infrastructure. The project will also integrate renewable power to support the Port’s aim of transitioning to all-electric heavy trucks and cargo-handling equipment, removing its need to rely on fossil fuels for cargo handling operations.
The new electrical infrastructure will serve the former Oakland Army Base and Outer Harbor areas, in addition to improving the Port’s electrical grid resiliency.
The Port of Oakland received a federal Port Infrastructure Development Program grant in December 2021 from the US Department of Transportation. The grant was awarded to upgrade a portion of the Port’s utility system and to increase its renewable energy capacity.
“This is a major step toward our goal to make the Oakland Seaport a zero-emissions operation,” said Bryan Brandes, maritime director, Port of Oakland.