LED lighting lowers terminal emissions

An Australian terminal has lowered its power consumption and carbon emissions by installing LED lighting on its automated quay cranes.

Victoria International Container Terminal

The upgrade at ICTSI subsidiary Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) in Melbourne reduced overall electricity usage by 971 megawatt hours and carbon emissions by 1,042t (88% reduction). The upgrade equates to an average savings of AUD85,000 per annum for VICT.

Each crane originally utilized 47 1,000-watt high-pressure sodium lights. These were replaced with 14 400-watt LED lights strategically placed to maximize the new fittings. VICT’s highly qualified in-house technicians removed the old fittings and ballast to refit the new LED lights, which further reduced light spill to the residential neighbourhood near the terminal.

The upgrade to LED lighting benefits both VICT’s ongoing operational expense reduction programme and the environment. Moreover, it allowed the terminal to successfully demonstrate to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) that under the Victoria Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, quay cranes should be reclassified and considered for environmental and sustainability initiatives qualified for rebates as reward similar to other outdoor settings across Victoria.

The work secured VICT’s eligibility to receive a rebate from the ESC amounting to AUD200,715.53 (USD146,347.32). The terminal continues to work with the ESC for further rebates which could unlock additional sustainability programs and increase the rebate amount under the scheme.