Portsmouth International Port are pushing the decarbonisation agenda through a number of innovative projects and iniatives in order to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce emissions in the city.

The port are a major partner in PESO (Port Energy Systems Optimisation) project which is detailed elsewhere in this newsletter and can be seen in full here.

In addition the Port's partner Portico have partnered with locally based Delta-Xero to install a diesel filtration device to one of the port's 125t Mobile Harbour Cranes in an effort to reduce engine exhaust emissions. These cranes lift and shift and break bulk cargo into palletised and containerised goods.

The results of the initiative have been very positive with evidence to show that the Delta Xero filtration equipment has successfully filtered the engine diesel resulting in the cleaner running of the diesel engine fitted to the crane and reduced airborne emissions. The filtration has reduced the particle count of emissions to an acceptable level which will result in reduced emissions in the city of Portsmouth.

Another initiative being embraced by the port has been a study to look at the feasibility of switching existing diesel fuels to Shell GTL (gas to liquid) fuel in the interests of emissions, costs and safety. Gas to liquid (GTL) fuel derives its name from the manufacturing process where natural gas is converted to hydrocarbons using Fischer-Trosch synthesis. In general GTL fuels are considered to have lower harmful emissios than traditional diesel fuels. The feasibility study undertook desk research and interviews to reach its final conclusions.

Initial internal emissions testing reported a positive impact on reducing emissions in the port as well as other benefits such as the rapid biodegradability of GTL and reduced environmental impact. There could also be additional noise reductions and other social, ethical and health benefits with a full scale switch to GTL.

Portico has already converted entirely to Shell GTL and the Port of Portsmouth will be following shortly.