Solar farm opens at Estonian port

The first phase of the new solar power park has been installed on top of two warehouses and is already in operation. On sunny days, its energy production fully covers the power needs of two warehouses’ cooling and ventilation equipment as well as a nearby workshop and an office. Surplus energy is used elsewhere in the port.

“With the completed solar installation, we aim to generate up to more than half of our total electricity consumption ourselves in a sustainable way,” commented Riia Sillave, chief executive of HHLA TK Estonia.

“Combining the daytime loading operations of our dual power hydrocrane with the solar power, we are operating already CO2 neutral in peak hours.”

The first two working solar parks generate an average of 720 kWh per day. In May, the modules produced 46,000 kWh, which helped to cover 50% of the consumption of the general cargo terminal. The expected total production of the facility is 240,000 kWh annually.

Expansion plans

Preparations have begun for two additional solar parks, increasing the terminal’s production of green energy by more than 150%. The combined estimated production will be 640 MWh per year.

“With this project, HHLA TK Estonia is contributing to the HHLA Group’s goal of being climate neutral by 2040,” Riia Sillave said.