24 July 2025
Nearly £140,000 in electricity costs has been saved at Portsmouth International Port over the past 12 months due to its solar technology.
Thanks to its 2,200, 1.2MW solar panels, which cover all available roof space on its terminals and a canopy over its car lanes, the port’s bill has been cut by £138,058 since 2023/24.
In total, the port paid £41 for its electricity at its new terminal extension, saving around £14,690 for that building alone, after drawing just 0.28% of its power from the grid.
The panels allow the port to run completely off-grid on sunny days, and have provided a total of 21% of the site’s electricity demand over the past year.
Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Portsmouth City Council cabinet member for climate change and greening the city, said: “Our port is striving to become the UK’s first emissions-free port by 2050, and is testament to our city’s environmental ambitions.
“To do this, it has taken the lead in trialling and implementing a host of technological sustainability initiatives, including sea water heating and cooling systems. The low electricity bills demonstrate the real-world impact this forward-thinking strategy is having, saving money for our residents in the process.”
To read more about the port’s sustainability initiatives see: Sustainability and innovation – Portsmouth Port