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Portsmouth Port reaches solar power milestone

[ October 24, 2022   //   ]

Portsmouth International Port has now switched on 888 panels of its solar generation project, a third of the eventual 2,660 total.

The scheme has been managed by Portsmouth City Council’s in-house energy services team, supported by Portsmouth International Port’s engineering department.

Installation began in February 2022 by specialist contractors Custom Solar, and incorporates roof-mounted solar panels across a number of buildings, a large battery and solar canopies.

Solar panels mounted on rooftops around the port are now generating 400kWp of renewable energy that can be used to reduce consumption at the port or exported back to the grid.

Once all 2,660 panels are switched on, the power produced will contribute around 35% of the port’s energy needs and will be an important contribution to the port’s ambition to reach net-zero by 2030.

When fully commissioned in January 2023, the 1.2 megawatt peak system will also be Portsmouth Council’s largest solar and battery installation to date.

The port is also the first in the UK to have solar canopies, and also recently won the ‘Commercial Solar and/or Storage Project of the Year’ award at Solar & Storage Live 2022 Awards.

The system will also include a 1.5 megawatt hour battery, enough power to run a typical home for four months to capture green power that can then be used at the port at another time, such as to power lights at night.

When complete, it is estimated that in peak conditions that 98% of the electricity consumed by the port could come from the combined solar and battery installation.

This project is part of an integrated approach at the port, that will eventually include shore power for smaller ships, without having to take extra power from the local electricity grid.

Jerry Clarke, pilot and senior project manager at Portsmouth International Port added: “The port is owned by the people of Portsmouth, so we have an obligation to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment, whilst reaching the ambitions set out in our 20 year Masterplan.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to help enable this project to happen, and I’d also like to thank Brittany Ferries and their passengers for their patience over the busy summer months whilst the installation took place.

“Combined with other sustainability initiatives, it will help us achieve our ambition of reaching net-zero carbon by 2030, and becoming one of the UK’s first zero emission ports by 2050. With government support, we really can make a clean maritime industry a reality”.

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, cabinet member for climate change and environment at Portsmouth City Council added: “When fully operational, the scheme will reduce annual emissions by 239 tonnes at this busy site. We’re committed to take positive action to tackle climate change, and this cut in emissions will boost our efforts to reduce carbon emissions across the city to net-zero by 2030.”

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