APM Terminals Barcelona to cut emissions through electrification of equipment

May 20, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

APM Terminals Barcelona has held the commissioning of seventeen Konecranes NSC 644 EHY hybrid straddle carriers as part of its decarbonization strategy.

As informed, these models use up to 32.5% less fuel than other modern cranes and are expected to reduce the terminal’s annual CO2 emissions by 50 tonnes.

In alignment with APM Terminals’ net zero 2040 goals, APM Terminals Barcelona is already meeting 7.5% of its energy needs through solar panels.

The terminal expects to meet its goal of emission neutrality with the launch of a major electrification pilot project that will test five electric straddle carriers, the first in the Mediterranean.

The solution, which APM Terminals is developing for the first time in the world, is supported by the Spanish Government through the Moves Singular Projects II Program.

The hybrid technology used by APM Terminals Barcelona’s 17 new straddle carriers will progressively enter into production, replacing existing older equipment in its 74-vehicle fleet dedicated to container handling in the yard.

Managing Director of APM Terminals Spanish Gateways, Julián Fernández, highlighted the importance of this €21.4 million investment, saying: “it is the materialisation of the beginning of our path towards the electrification of our equipment, in line with our global objective of reducing our emissions by 70% by 2030, and to achieve net zero by 2040″.

“As one of the main players in the Port Community of Barcelona, it was important that APM Terminals Spanish Gateways was not only involved in the modernisation and decarbonisation of our port, but also leading pioneering initiatives, such as the implementation of hybrid cranes,” the President of the Port of Barcelona Lluís Salvadó said.

“These investments help us to become an increasingly competitive and sustainable port, supporting the growth of the economy and the well-being of our citizens.”

In August last year, the Government of Spain, via the Moves Singular Projects II Program, granted $4.28 million to APM Terminals Barcelona to finance part of a pilot project for the electrification of the container handling equipment operating at the terminal.