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We’re BEST for emissions, says Barca operator

[ April 20, 2023   //   ]

Hutchison Ports says its BEST terminal in Barcelona is one of the greenest container hubs in the Mediterranean thanks to the design of its infrastructure and the way it conducts its operations. In 2022 it eliminated Scope 2 emissions by opting for 100% renewable electricity.

Hutchison Ports BEST chief executive Guillermo Belcastro says: “BEST is taking a leadership role in assisting supply chains in becoming more sustainable. Consumers are demanding ever more sustainable products and that means that logistics players must address those needs accordingly.”

Over the past ten years, BEST has reduced carbon emissions by 65% compared to a conventional terminal thanks to its semi-automation and use of rail-mounted electric cranes for most operations.

The overall efficiency also allows shipping lines to minimize their port turnaround time.

Belcastro also stated: “the future of sustainability is already here; by reducing its emission by 57% (following GHG protocol) BEST is almost 10 years ahead of the targets established by the European Union and the International Maritime Organization of 55% and 40% in 2030 respectively.”

BEST started an energy self-sufficiency project in December last year. It has installed 1,832 solar panels on close to half a hectare of roofing, capable of generating 1.18 GWh of electricity, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 200 homes.

Moreover, BEST is scheduled to provide shore power in 2024. This Port Authority project will allow ships to connect to electricity with a guarantee of 100% renewable sources and save emissions during their stay in the port. It is also expected that the current expansion of the terminal’s storage area will allow all refrigerated containers to be connected to renewable electricity by the end of 2024.

The group is committed to using rail transport, which considerably reduces atmospheric emissions by removing lorries off the road. In the last 10 years, BEST has increased local rail traffic share at Barcelona from 3% to 20%, thanks to its own rail terminal, investment in inland intermodal terminals in northern Spain (at Zaragoza, Noain, Villafría, Agoncillo and Miranda de Ebro) and the creation of the rail operator, Synergy, which helps to expand the Port of Barcelona’s area of influence.

The wider Hutchison Ports Group has committed to setting both near-term and net-zero targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) net-zero standard. The group will set ambitious emission reduction targets in line with this and reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

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