DP World and the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate the use of renewable energy and reduce emissions from the port and maritime logistics sector.
“We will use our extensive reach and influence to rally the supply chain industry and promote solutions that make an impact not only within our operations, but also across borders, ensuring a sustainable flow of trade globally,” said DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.[ds_preview]
“In our race to accelerate a renewables-based energy transition, the maritime sector remains one of the biggest decarbonization challenges,” added Irena Director General Francesco La Camera. “DP World’s innovative use of smart electrification is at the forefront of the sector’s transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements in ports and maritime logistics operations.”
Irena is an intergovernmental organization that promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy to achieve sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.
Irena and DP World to present findings at COP28
Both Irena and DP World will share their findings on initiatives at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which starts at the end of this month. DP World will advocate for more urgent climate action and use its scale and influence to bring the supply chain industry together to develop effective long-term solutions while ensuring the global flow of trade.
DP World has already committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and carbon free by 2050. At the COP27 climate conference last year, the company announced that it had joined the Green Shipping Challenge and committed to invest up to $500 million to reduceCO2 emissions by almost 700,000 tons over the next five years.
DP World’s partnership with Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
The long-term strategy includes electrifying operations, pioneering the use of low-carbon fuels and exploring other forward-looking solutions, such as carbon-neutral synthetic natural gas. DP World has also partnered with the Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and joined the UN Global Compact’s Think Lab on Just Transition.
Progress is already being made at DP World. Global carbon emissions have been reduced by 5% in 2022 and energy consumption by 4%. At the Rotterdam and Jebel Ali terminals, this has been achieved through the electrification of facilities, while the Port of Southampton in the UK, which recently recorded its greenest year ever, has pioneered the use of low-carbon hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).
The company’s carbon emissions in the United Arab Emirates have also been reduced by almost 50% this year. The port of Jebel Ali is now powered by 100% renewable electricity provided by the local utility company. This also applies to the entire vertical stacking facility at Terminal 4, which has been converted to all-electric operation. By switching to renewable energy, DP World is well ahead of the UAE’s national target to reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2030.
