The Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) added a 7.2-megawatt (MW) solar project engineered to integrate with the operational purposes of an active marine terminal.
The solar project was constructed by Standard Solar and delivers clean energy using rooftop and canopy systems without disrupting port activity. Standard Solar owns and will operate and maintain the system long-term.
Completed in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the City of Newark, the system was strategically built over active truck lanes, rooftops and parking areas, maximizing available space while maintaining full operational continuity throughout construction. It now supplies approximately half of PNCT’s annual power needs and reduces emissions by 50%.
Built across the 320-acre terminal, the installation also has the capacity to send excess power to the Newark grid, supporting local energy resilience and emissions reduction.
The project features 3.8 MW of elevated canopy-mounted arrays over active truck lanes, 3.4 MW of additional rooftop and parking canopy arrays and a real-time dashboard for monitoring energy production and carbon savings.
“PNCT, Standard Solar and Mayor Baraka, working together with the Port Authority, have been relentless in partnering for responsible expansion of the port to meet the shipping needs of our growing regional and national economy, without sacrificing the health and well-being of our neighbors,” said Jim Pelliccio, president and CEO of Port Newark Container Terminal, in a statement. “Our investments in sustainability have set the groundwork for an ambitious vision to transform the future of Port Newark — setting unparalleled standards for efficiency, environmental responsibility and economic prosperity.”
The PNCT solar installation is part of a larger clean energy roadmap developed under a 2011 lease agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. PNCT has implemented a suite of complementary initiatives, including LED lighting upgrades, hybrid straddle carriers, energy-efficient electric cranes and propane-powered yard tractors, all aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing port efficiency.