The installation of a solar and battery system at Portsmouth International Port has reached a “major milestone”, the port has revealed.

The scheme, which started in February this year, is managed by Portsmouth City Council’s in-house energy services team.

A company called Custom Solar has now installed 2,660 solar panels, ready for the next stage of the project.

The power produced by the 2,660 solar panels will contribute approximately 35 per cent of the site’s power, labelled “a significant step” in the port’s ambition to be the UK’s first net-zero carbon port.

The battery, with a capacity of 1.5 megawatt hours, will capture green power that would otherwise be exported from the site, which can then be used at the port when needed.

When complete, it is estimated that in peak conditions that 98 per cent of the electricity consumed by the port will come from the solar and battery power options.

Portsmouth Port aiming for zero emissions

Portsmouth International Port pilot and senior project manager Jerry Clarke said: “The port is owned by the people of Portsmouth, so we have an obligation to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment, while reaching the ambitions set out in our 20-year masterplan.

“Combined with other sustainability initiatives, it will help us achieve our ambition of reaching net-zero carbon by 2030, and becoming one of the UK’s first zero emission ports by 2050”.

Portsmouth City Council cabinet member for climate change and environment Kimberly Barrett added: “It is the council’s priority to support clean growth.

“This major milestone on this innovative project means that the project is on-track to begin generating clean energy later this year. When operational, it will reduce annual emissions by 239 tonnes at this busy site.

“We’re committed to take positive action to tackle climate change, and this cut in emissions will boost our ambitions to reduce carbon emissions across the city to net zero by 2030”.