PSA Mumbai has marked a significant milestone in its commitment to reducing emissions by becoming India’s first container terminal fully powered by renewable energy.
The commissioning of its 7.8MW solar farm in collaboration with O2 Power is an important achievement. Scheduled for expansion to 10MW by June 2024, the solar farm is set to meet more than 75% of PSA Mumbai's electricity needs. The remaining renewable power will be procured from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and other providers.
Anticipated to yield a substantial environmental impact, the solar farm is expected to curtail the terminal's CO2 equivalent emissions by an estimated 16,000 tonnes annually, translating to a remarkable reduction of over 350,000 tonnes over its operational lifespan.
Furthermore, O2 Power, a major renewable energy platform in India owned by EQT Infrastructure and Temasek, has spearheaded the development and will oversee the management of the solar farm situated in Beed, Maharashtra, with expansion facilities in Motala, Maharashtra. These facilities are seamlessly integrated into PSA Mumbai's operations through existing MSEDCL infrastructure.
"We are delighted to commission our solar farm and with the switch to 100% renewable power, achieve a significant reduction in our emissions. Supply chain users want greener and more sustainable transportation solutions to achieve emissions reduction targets: the successful completion of this initiative and projects such as the soon-to-be-delivered etrucks underscores our commitment to meeting those requirements. We are very grateful for Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority’s (JNPA) support during this process and are pleased to play our part towards JNPA's target of 60% usage of renewable power under Maritime India Vision 2030. With the solar farm’s expansion, we are also pleased to be growing our partnership with O2 Power," stated Andy Lane, CEO of PSA Mumbai.
PSA Mumbai is aiming for a 50% reduction in its carbon emissions by 2030, and it has embarked on several key initiatives to achieve this ambitious target. Among these initiatives is the extensive electrification of its equipment fleet, which includes the deployment of an entire fleet of all-electric Rubber-tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGC) for Phase 2 development. The electrification process for all existing RTGCs in Phase 1 is currently in progress and is expected to be finalised by 2027.
Adding to these efforts, PSA BDP is set to launch e-trucks in early 2024, creating a zero-emission green transport corridor in Nhava Sheva that links terminals, container freight stations (CFS) and customer facilities. This innovative solution combines the renewable power generated by PSA Mumbai with the trucking expertise from PSA Ameya and PSA BDP India, presenting a unique marketplace solution. This initiative underscores PSA's unwavering commitment to green transportation endeavours.
"Our interaction with the PSA Mumbai team over the last few months has been so mesmerising and feels like our own extended family of O2 Power by complimenting each other with various endeavours. We are proud to be partnering with the PSA group and look forward to continued collaboration with PSA Mumbai for their overall sustainability initiatives," explained Kiran Kumar, head of Open Access O2 Power.
