The installation of an innovative energy system that includes batteries as well as solar panels is in progress in the Portsmouth International Port, managed by the city’s own energy services
department. The project started in February 2022 . It will include roof-mounted solar panels for many buildings, a massive battery , and solar canopy.
Once completed, the energy generated by the solar panels of 2,660 will make up about 35percent of the port’s energy needs, which is a major step in the direction of Portsmouth International Port’s aim to become the first UK net carbon-free port. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2022.
The project is groundbreaking for the council, as well as within the national context. It’s one of the few UK port with solar canopy and a megawatt size battery as component of an renewable project. When it is completed the 1.2 megawatt peak system will be the biggest solar and battery system to date in the council’s portfolio of renewable energy sources.
In addition to producing carbon-free electricity Solar canopies also provide shade to cars waiting to board ferry boats and allow them to remain cooler for longer, and not having to use their engines.
The battery, which has capacity of 1.5 megawatt hours (enough to power an average home for four months) It will also capture the power of green that could otherwise be transferred from the site and making it available to the Port’s facilities whenever it is required.
The battery will operate together with the battery storage pilot program that will be which was announced during the summer. providing balancing services to the grid, and also storage of power during low-cost times. When it’s complete, it’s believed to be 98% energy used from the Port will be generated by batteries and solar power panels, when combined.
Cabinet Minister of the Cabinet for Climate Change as well as Climate Change and Green Recovery, Cllr Kimberly Barrett stated:
“I’m thrilled to learn the beginning of work on this revolutionary project. When completed, the new system will help reduce the carbon emissions of Portsmouth, which is in line with our pledge to reduce carbon emissions until net zero by 2030.
This unique project that combines rooftop solar PV, solar canopy and battery storage on a large scale, will cut annual carbon emissions of 239 tonnes on the site”.
Jerry Clarke, pilot and senior project manager at Portsmouth International Port added: “The port is owned by the citizens of Portsmouth which means that we have the obligation to manage and minimize the impact of port operations Portsmouth’s local ecology.
“We’re happy to collaborate with the larger council and Custom Solar on this exciting project. It will greatly increase the capacity of our solar power generation it is part an integrated plan which will allow us provide shore power to smaller vessels without the need to draw additional energy from the local electric grid.
“Combined with other sustainability initiatives, it will help us achieve our ambition of becoming one of the UK’s first zero emission ports by 2050”.
This project is the most recent in a string of battery and solar projects that are managed by the council’s the energy service team. The team purchased Custom Solar after a competitive tender exercise conducted by the council’s new PV as well as Storage Framework.
Gary Sucharewycz, CEO of Custom Solar, said:
“We are delighted to work together with Portsmouth City Council in the execution of this project. We will be leveraging our expertise in the development and delivery of solar energy at another well-established British port.
We’ve already begun breaking ground and we’re excited to show off a solar roof and solar carport canopy as well as a battery-storage system. We are ecstatic to be selected to help meet the environmental goals for Portsmouth International Port and look at delivering another significant on-site initiative in a bustling operational environment , which will assist in achieving carbon reduction targets.”