BEST terminal smashes EU emission targets

The Hutchison Ports-owned terminal eliminated scope 2 emissions last year by switching to 100% electricity from renewable sources and has reduced emissions by nearly 60%.

“The future of sustainability is already here,” said chief executive, Guillermo Belcastro. “By reducing emissions by 57% BEST is almost ten years ahead of the targets established by the European Union and the International Maritime Organisation of 55% and 40% in 2030 respectively.”

The BEST terminal is semi-automated and uses mostly rail-mounted electric cranes. Emissions are reduced both at quayside for ships and at the gates for trucks, helping shippers minimise port turnaround time.

Since December last year, the terminal has installed 1,832 solar panels on close to half a hectare of roofs of its buildings, capable of generating 1.18 GWh of electricity, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 200 homes.

From next year, in collaboration with the Barcelona Port Authority, BEST expects to provide shore power and also anticipates that 100% of refrigerated containers will be powered by electricity from renewable sources by the end of 2024.

Finally, the group is committed to using rail transport and has increased local rail traffic share from 3% to 20% in the past decade, thanks to its own rail terminal, investment in inland intermodal terminals in northern Spain and the creation of rail operator Synergy.