DP World trials solar energy at London hub

Emirati multinational logistics company DP World says it has taken another step towards its ambition of becoming the most sustainable logistics business in the UK after the successful trial of new solar energy units at its London Gateway hub.

The installation of sunlight-converting photovoltaic panels on the canopy of the gatehouse building, through which 548,000 lorries a year enter the port en route to collecting or discharging containers, has generated 29.95 megawatt hours (MWH) of electricity in total over the first two months and a highest daily peak of 120 KWH.

Andrew Bowen, chief operating officer at DP World, said: “We are committed to mitigating the impacts of climate change by becoming a net zero logistics organisation by 2050. This successful trial is another step on that journey, with our gatehouse complex becoming the first entirely carbon neutral part of London Gateway since the photovoltaic panels were introduced two months ago.”

“Decarbonisation is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today and we are looking to cut emissions further by increasing our renewable electricity usage. This will mean installing significantly more photovoltaic solar panels at our logistics hubs at both London Gateway and Southampton over the next three years.”

DP World operates two deep water ports at Southampton and London Gateway with access to freight rail terminals, and a rapidly expanding logistics park on the doorstep of the capital. It makes a major contribution to the UK economy, handling over £43 billion of goods a year.

By decarbonising its operations DP World, which oversees trade flows in over 200 countries across six continents, says it is offering customers solutions that support their own sustainability journeys. Earlier this year, its Southampton terminal announced that it had delivered an absolute reduction of 55 per cent in net carbon emissions from its fleet and installations in 2022 after transitioning to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable biodiesel derived from sustainable sources.

DP World’s £350m new fourth berth at London Gateway opens for business next summer as part of Thames Freeport and will be the first in Britain to be all-electric. The group said it is also building some of the most sustainable warehouses yet built at the adjacent logistics park, with the target of delivering a 30 per cent carbon reduction during construction and a 40 per cent reduction in operational carbon emissions.