The Spanish government has become involved in APM Terminals’ USD60 million program to pilot electrification projects at its ports.

The pilot program is already underway at APM’s Aqaba Container Terminal in Jordan and APM Terminals Mobile and Pier 400 Los Angeles in the United States, as well as the Suez Canal Container Terminal in Egypt.

The Spanish government will contribute EUR3.9 million (USD4.3 million) towards the pilot project to electrify the container handling equipment at APM’s Barcelona port.

The Barcelona pilot is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 821 T per year.

The project includes the acquisition of five zero-emission electric straddle carriers, four recharging stations, civil and electrical works, an IT network and the development the technology required to operate and recharge the machinery. 

The cranes are expected to arrive in Barcelona during the third quarter of 2024, with testing to take place until the second quarter of 2025.

APM Terminals Spanish gateways general manager Carlos Arias says: "At APM Terminals we are committed to reducing CO2 emissions and we will spare no effort in meeting our 2030 goals. 

“For us it is very important that this is done in a collaborative way with the governments of the countries where we operate. 

“If there is anything that definitely belongs to all of us, it is our planet."

APM Terminals has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 70% by 2030 and achieving CO2 neutrality by 2040.

Since 2018, the Barcelona port has been powered by electricity from renewable sources. This will continue until at least 2032, under the latest agreement reached with the distributor.

To support the electrification pilots, APM Terminals has signed agreements with Konecranes and SANY to further develop electric port equipment.  

APM Terminals has ordered 10 electric terminal tractors, two electric reachstackers and two electric empty container handlers from SANY.

It is also the first company globally to place an order for four battery-powered Konecranes Noell straddle carriers, to be delivered in the third quarter of 2024.

Both orders also include charging infrastructure. 

In the next decade, APM Terminals estimates it will need to buy or retrofit more than 1,500 electric terminal tractors (eTTs), 500 electric reachstackers (eRS), as well as electric empty handlers (eEH), electric top loaders (eTL), 100 electric straddle (eSC) and shuttle (eShC) carriers and 550 rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).

Completion of the pilots is expected early 2025. 

In 2022, APM Terminals purchased more than 180 pieces of electric or hybrid container handling equipment.