Practice and Perspectives towards Sustainable Carbon Neutral Green Ports

As vital hubs integrating energy and transportation and connecting water and land transportation, ports are confronted with significant pressure in light of the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study addresses the energy consumption and emission challenges in container seaports. The primary energy-consuming equipment and emission sources in ports are identified, and strategies for achieving carbon neutrality are analyzed. The study evaluates the effectiveness of various approaches in reducing the carbon footprint of seaports. Furthermore, a framework for a multi-integrated energy system in ports is proposed, and its key technologies are examined. The findings indicate that carbon neutrality has become a global priority for governments, with the main emissions in ports originating from port handling equipment, mobile machinery, and anchored ships. While existing emission reduction measures have made progress, they have not fully addressed the issue. Therefore, implementing the application of multi-energy systems in ports emerges as a promising direction for emissions reduction.