Portsmouth port to install £320,000 battery on the road to carbon neutrality

After around £320,000 of funding was secured, a consortium including Portsmouth International Port has put in motion plans to switch to cleaner energy.

The Port Energy Systems Optimisation (PESO) scheme will feature a 20ft battery – the size of a container – to optimise the energy use at the port.

It comes as part of Portsmouth International Port's plans to help improve air quality in the city, as the port strives to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Port director Mike Sellers said: ‘We've previously said we'll take bold action to meet our goal to be the UK's first zero emission port.

‘This innovative project demonstrates that we want to be at the forefront of research into sustainable energy projects that will help us reach that target.

‘This initiative has the potential to have significant benefits for the port, and could also provide an solution to smart energy use that can be shared with the wider port industry.’

Funding for this new scheme has come from the public body Innovate UK, with the project being supported by Marine South East.

Portsmouth International Port already generates energy through solar panels across the site; the energy is sometimes stored and shared to the wider electricity grid during peak times.

Dr Jonathan Williams, CEO at Marine South East, said: ‘Leaning up maritime emissions is now an urgent priority for the sector and the PESO project will be a critical stepping-stone to achieve this.

‘Marine South East is delighted to be leading this project with Portsmouth International Port, to build a prototype system for advanced energy management in the port.

‘This will pave the way for de-carbonisation and other emissions reduction across the port estate.’

Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, said: ‘We are facing a climate emergency and as a city we have to take responsibility and direct action to combat this critical issue.

‘This successful application for funding shows the commitment that Mike and his team at the port have to take this issue seriously, and reflect the wider city's ambition to tackle carbon emissions and air quality issues head-on.’

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