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Solar to power half of Port Newark box terminal’s energy needs

7.2-megawatt installation completed

Stuart Chirls
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Aerial view of the Port Newark Container Terminal solar arrays. (Photo: PNCT)

Key Takeaways:

  • Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) completed a 7.8-acre solar energy project generating 7.2 megawatts, supplying 50% of the terminal's annual electricity needs and contributing surplus power to the grid.
  • This project is part of PNCT's $500 million expansion and broader commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, encompassing initiatives like truck and vessel emission reduction programs.
  • The solar project utilizes innovative canopy-mounted arrays, minimizing land use while maximizing energy production, showcasing a collaborative effort between PNCT, the Port Authority, and the city of Newark.
  • PNCT is also implementing other sustainability measures, including LED lighting, energy-efficient cranes, and the expansion of its ExpressRail system to reduce reliance on trucks.
Key takeaways sponsored by SONAR

Port Newark Container Terminal, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the city of Newark marked the completion of a solar energy project designed to provide half of the terminal’s yearly electrical power needs.

The collaborative project covering 7.8 acres with solar panel canopies aims to meet 50% of the terminal’s annual energy needs, the bi-state agency said in a release.

Including the solar project, PNCT is spending a total $500 million on expansion.  

Five elevated canopy-mounted solar arrays spanning multiple truck lanes produces 3.8 megawatts, while additional canopies and rooftop arrays generate another 3.4 megawatts. The installation takes up just 0.04 acres of ground space in the port’s urban location, and will also contribute surplus electricity back to the regional power grid.

The project was dubbed a “win for Newark residents, a win for the environment, and a win for our seaport,” by Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. Executive Director Rick Cotton highlighted the development as a reflection of the agency’s commitment to sustainable practices amidst rising cargo volumes.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka praised the project for advancing both environmental health and economic prosperity, underscoring the city’s collaboration with PNCT as vital for addressing urban challenges. 

Jim Pelliccio, president and chief executive of Port Newark Container Terminal, said the investment is foundational to the port’s sustainable transformation.

Aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the authority’s plans encompass a range of programs, such as the Truck Replacement Program and the Clean Vessel Incentive. These programs incentivize truck companies and ocean carriers to adopt cleaner engines and operate with reduced emissions. The authority is also focusing on transitioning cargo handling equipment to zero-emission models as they become commercially available.

The buildout of the seaport’s on-dock ExpressRail system reduces emissions by enabling goods to reach the Midwest, New England, and eastern Canada more sustainably than via truck

PNCT has further strengthened these efforts by converting terminal lighting to LED fixtures and employing energy-efficient cranes and hybrid straddle carriers.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.