Posted on July 17, 2024
On Tuesday, 2nd July 2024, APM Terminals Mumbai, Gateway Terminals India (GTI), switched to 80% renewable electricity with the commissioning of a 10.65 MW captive solar power plant through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model with O2 Power.
According to APM Terminals, the captive solar plant will generate enough electricity to power, among other things, the terminal’s quay cranes and reefers. This latest switch to renewable electricity provides APM Terminals Mumbai with a significant advancement in its transition to becoming a renewable-energy powered container terminal.
APM Terminals Mumbai’s CO2 equivalent emissions will be reduced by more than a projected 15,000 tonnes annually leading to 41% carbon emission reduction.
In addition to this GTI will soon be signing an MoU with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authorities (JNPA) to initiate the development of Shore Power for vessels calling at GTI. At APM Terminals Mumbai we will also be piloting an electric internal transfer vehicle (ITV) and are committed to meeting JNPA’s vision of zero-emission trucking.
Benefits of shore power
During the 2023 GREEN4SEA Athens Forum, Theodosia Digalaki, Technical Product Manager, ERMA FIRST, explained that shore power benefits include:
- Reduction of air pollutants
- Potential positive ROI depending on local electricity rates
- When combined with renewable energy sources like solar or wind, shore power can eliminate the carbon footprint
- Elimination of vibration and noise onboard, improving seafarers’ living conditions
- Avoidance of using auxiliary engines at berth, extending lifecycle and reducing maintenance costs
Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Chairman of JNPA, emphasized that the implementation of solar power at Gateway Terminals India marked a transformative step, delivering a substantial total capacity of 10.65MWp. He stated that this strategic initiative was projected to significantly reduce pollution, aligning with their vision of making all terminals green within the next two years. He highlighted the emphasis on using renewable energy for a sustainable logistics supply chain and achieving operational excellence. Mr. Wagh added that by leading this transition, JNPA reaffirmed its role as an innovator and leader in the port and maritime industry.
Meanwhile, Sunay Mukerjee, COO, mentioned that they were integrating their global decarbonisation ambitions with the Government of India’s Harit Sagar guidelines and ambitious targets set by JNPA in the renewable energy segment. He expressed satisfaction in partnering with O2 Power to elevate the standard of decarbonisation across the industry.
