Portsmouth International Port has reported savings of nearly £140,000 (US$188,000) in electricity costs over the past 12 months due to the application of solar technology.
Thanks to 2,200, 1.2MW solar panels, which cover all available roof space on the port’s terminals and a canopy over its car lanes, the port’s bill has been cut by £138,058 (US$185,610) since 2023/24. In fact, the total that the port paid for its electricity at its new terminal extension was just £41 (US$55), drawing just 0.28% of its power from the grid for this building.
The panels enable the port to run completely off-grid on sunny days, and have provided a total of 21% of the site’s electricity demand over the past year.
“Our port is striving to become the UK’s first emission-free port by 2050, and is testament to our city’s environmental ambitions,” said councillor Kimberly Barrett, Portsmouth City council cabinet member for climate change and greening the city.
“To do this, it has taken the lead in trialing and implementing a host of technological sustainability initiatives, including sea water heating and cooling systems. The low electricity bills demonstrate the real-world impact this forward-thinking strategy is having, saving money for our residents in the process.”
In related news, the Port of Tauranga in New Zealand will trial the country’s first ever all-electric container straddle carrier in late 2027. Read the full story