The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) and the city of Newark on Thursday said a 7.2 megawatt (MW) solar installation at PNCT is now complete.
PNCT is one of the world’s only container terminals to implement in-terminal renewable energy production of this magnitude, a significant component of PNCT’s broader strategic initiative to develop an energy microgrid operating at net-zero emissions. It also aligns with the Port Authority’s industry-leading net-zero goals. The agency has committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to facilitating its tenants and operating partners in reaching the same goal in the same timeframe.
The solar installation now generates 50 percent of the terminal’s annual energy needs, greatly reducing emissions and improving air quality. In addition to generating power for terminal operations, the system has the ability to feed excess power into the regional utility grid, providing clean energy to the city of Newark and nearby areas.
“This project is a win for Newark residents, a win for the environment, and a win for our seaport,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said. “By working hand-in-hand with PNCT and the city of Newark, our seaport is now home to a large solar energy project capable of generating significant energy for one of its major container terminals while feeding excess power into the local grid. It’s an extraordinary model of how we can work together for the betterment not just of our own facilities, but for the communities we serve as well.”
“PNCT’s impressive solar installation marks a major step forward in the Port of New York and New Jersey’s steadfast transition to cleaner, more sustainable operations,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “This project offers clear evidence that the Port Authority and its partners are committed to aggressively advancing our ambitious sustainability measures as cargo volumes continue to grow at the East Coast’s busiest port.”
“The city of Newark and PNCT have long appreciated our interdependence and shared history. What affects one affects the other, and we have worked together to solve challenges across every aspect of city life,” Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said. “Today we celebrate an astounding success with this micro-grid that improves our environment, health and economy, increases our sustainable energy resources, and puts us at the pinnacle of yet another global solution. All of Newark is grateful for PNCT’s responsible leadership and innovation.”
The system generates a significant amount of solar energy from 7.8 acres of elevated solar panel canopies that altogether occupy just 1,500 square feet, or about 0.04 acres, of ground space. It generates 3.8 megawatts from five elevated canopy-mounted solar arrays on top of multiple truck lanes, along with an additional 3.4 megawatts from canopies over parking areas and rooftop arrays. In a space-constrained environment, this innovative dual-use design enables robust solar generation without sacrificing land for terminal operations.
The system was designed, constructed and implemented without any interruption to terminal operations. The project was the recipient of the Solar Builder Project of the Year Editor’s Choice award for its ingenuity in navigating complex construction conditions without disrupting daily operations at the terminal.
PNCT maintains a dashboard monitoring the system’s real-time energy generation. Since the first phase of the project became operational in 2023, the energy generated has marked the equivalent of removing 5,801 metric tons of CO2 from the air, the equivalent of planting more than 150,000 trees.
