The final stage of the project was completed in July 2023. Image: Portsmouth International Port.

Portsmouth International Port has completed a solar-battery co-location project meaning solar now provides 35% of the site’s electricity.

According to the port, the last piece of the project was finalised in July 2023, where an upgraded connection to the national grid allowed the “full potential of the 1.2MWp solar system to be realised”. This system consists of 2,660 solar panels.

This is part of a wider strategy by Portsmouth International Port to become one of the UK’s first net zero ports by 2030.

In a bid to achieve this goal, the port turned its eyes to a combination of solar and battery storage technology to bolster renewable capacity. The project began with the installation of roof-mounted solar panels across several buildings, the installation of a battery storage unit (1.5MWh) and the “first solar canopies at a UK port”. Solar Power Portal covered these developments here.

Elly Howe, environmental and sustainability coordinator at Portsmouth International Port, said: “This huge solar installation and battery storage facility will help the port reach our ambitious sustainability goals. Energy consumption at the port is already down 33% on last year so I’m excited to see what we can achieve in the future.

“Along with our project partners, I’d like also like to thank Brittany Ferries, the port’s biggest customer, for helping to accommodate the work throughout some of the busiest times of the year.”

The scheme had been managed by Portsmouth City Council’s in-house energy services team and installed by Custom Solar.

Gary Sucharewycz, development director at Custom Solar, said: “Portsmouth City Council are very forward thinking in their renewable ambitions and we are very proud to have supported them by developing and delivering this major solar and storage project. The project demonstrates how solar can be integrated into areas of land in busy operational sites such as this and we look forward to working with the council on future projects.”