DP World – a global ports and terminals, marine services, logistics and technology company – is to accelerate its adoption of renewable energy at the Port of Santos, Brazil’s multipurpose private terminal, initially through replacing diesel fuel with electric power for the terminal’s rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) container handling cranes.

A total of 22 ZPMC diesel-fuelled units will be electrified by the end of next year, representing an investment of over R$80m ($16.2m).

The first RTG machine in the fleet already operates sustainably on 100% electric power and by the end of 2023 another four machines will be converted as part of the company’s global strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.

There are several participants in the electrification process, including Conductix Wampfler for the electrification system, WEG for the substations, and DP World Santos for engineering and management.

The electrification process works through a system of overhead cables.

“The conversion of the RTGs is a critical step in our decarbonisation efforts and aligns with our overall focus on sustainability,” said Fábio Siccherino, CEO of DP World Santos. “In addition to improved environmental care and climate performance, this change is also expected to bring additional operational benefits, as the technology offers low maintenance costs, increased productivity of the RTGs, and improved equipment reliability.”

The RTG electrification project is part of a global sustainability strategy called Our World, Our Future. Under the strategy, DP World will adopt renewable energy sources for all its port equipment across the 75 countries where it operates.

Last year, chairman and group CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem announced that the company intends to invest up to $500m to reduce global carbon emissions from its operations by nearly 700,000 tons over the next five years. It cut direct carbon emissions from its global operations by 5% in 2022, according to its latest environmental social and governance (ESG) report.

DP World starts rubber-tyred gantry crane electrification in Brazil