The Spanish government has granted €3.9 million ($4.3 million) to APM Terminals (APMT) Barcelona to finance a portion of a pilot project for the electrification of the terminal’s container handling equipment.
This solution is being created in partnership with its suppliers.
It will comprise the purchase of five zero-emission electric straddle carriers, four charging stations, civil and electrical works, an IT network, and the creation of programmes and processes to apply the technology necessary for equipment operations and recharging.
The goal is to gain a better knowledge of the project’s technical and economic feasibility, improve procedures, and examine its scalability to other terminals that handle cargo with similar technology.
The Port of Barcelona acknowledged the project as essential to making progress in achieving the environmental objectives of the port and the city.
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Carlos Arias, General Manager of APMT Spanish Gateways, said: “At APM Terminals we are committed to reducing CO2 emissions and we will spare no effort in meeting our 2030 goals.
“For us it is very important that this is done in a collaborative way with the governments of the countries where we operate. If there is anything that definitely belongs to all of us, it is our planet.”
In addition to lower noise levels and improved air quality due to zero emissions – in line with APMT’s overall objective to reduce CO2 emissions by 70 per cent by 2030 and achieve CO2 neutrality by 2040.
By dramatically lowering the use of oil in everyday operations and waste generation, APMT aims to provide benefits in terms of equipment availability, enhanced maintenance processes, and the establishment of a cleaner and safer working environment.
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As well as the fact that the new electric straddle carriers are zero-emission, the electricity contracted by the terminal comes exclusively from renewable sources.
This has been the case since 2018, and it will remain so until at least 2032, according to the most recent agreement made with the distributor, in accordance with the company’s decarbonisation goal.
The Barcelona initiative is pioneering by receiving assistance from the Moves Singular Projects II Programme for Efficient and Sustainable Mobility, which was developed as part of the Spanish Government’s Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan and is funded by European Union NextGenerationEU funds.
The cranes are scheduled to arrive in Barcelona in the third quarter of 2024, with testing lasting until the second quarter of 2025.
