APM Terminals is making strides towards its greenhouse gas reduction targets in Spain, with the Barcelona terminal celebrating a major milestone: the arrival of its first electric straddle carriers. These carriers, the first of their kind in the Mediterranean Sea, mark a significant step in APM Terminal’s commitment to sustainability.
As part of APM Terminal’s $60 million global electrification pilot to reduce emissions, a total of five electric straddle carriers will be rolled out in Barcelona.
“Our celebration today underlines our long-term commitment as a terminal operator to Barcelona and to Spain,” says Julián Fernandez, CEO of Spanish Gateways in APM Terminals. “The modernization we do here goes hand in hand with our global industry-leading target of net zero by 2040, and Barcelona is a prime example as one of the pilots showing the way with electric equipment. We see huge potential in further developing our terminals in connection with the overall logistics infrastructure.”
The project in Barcelona has been supported by approximately €3 million from the Spanish Government. Within a year, the port has moved from plans to action and is now testing the first phase of its electrification plan, which includes setting up charging stations and implementing the necessary operating technology.
“The commissioning of the first five electric straddle carriers at APM Terminals Barcelona demonstrates the Port Community’s firm commitment to our decarbonization objectives,” adds José Alberto Carbonell, President of Port de Barcelona. “I would like to highlight the efforts made by the port’s companies and professionals to efficiently reduce our impact on the environment, and I would like to thank APM Terminals for choosing Barcelona to lead this important global project for the effective decarbonization of maritime port activity. The Port of Barcelona is on track to reduce its CO2 emissions by half by 2030 and to be carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve this, we are making progress in the port’s energy transition, with projects such as the Nexigen plan for the electrification of quays, the production of renewable energies, and the promotion of transition fuels and future zero-emission fuels.”
The pilot and testing of equipment taking place in Barcelona is a collaboration with Konecranes and ZPMC.
“Konecranes is proud to partner with APM Terminals Barcelona to contribute to achieving their global industry-leading target with our four battery-powered Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers and automated charging stations,” says Peter Kania, Sales Director of Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers. “These innovations support eco-efficient operations and set new standards in decarbonization. Konecranes is driving the shift to sustainable technologies with our Ecolifting ideology, focusing on zero tailpipe emission solutions.”
Barcelona Leading the Way for Global Strategy
When APM Terminals kicked off its global pilot program for electrification, Barcelona was one of five hand-picked terminals to participate. Currently, battery-electric equipment has been piloted in Jordan, Egypt, and now Spain. These pilots build a solid foundation for the next steps: moving from piloting to implementing the global decarbonization strategy with battery-electric equipment at its centre, leveraging the expertise of our operators who have been trained as part of the program.
“From our operators’ hands-on experiences, it has become evident that some of the upsides – in addition to the lower emissions – are better air quality and working environment, both for our colleagues working with the equipment and for our neighbours around the port area,” says Sahar Rashidbeigi, Head of Decarbonization, APM Terminals. “The feedback we get is that electric equipment provides a quieter and smoother ride and more precise handling. Instant torque makes lifting more effortless, while reduced vibrations and simpler maintenance make for a more comfortable and efficient workday.”
Pier 400 in Los Angeles is next in line in the pilot program, and APM Terminal’s new-build terminals in Rijeka and Suape – starting operations in 2025 and 2026, respectively – are both being fully equipped with electric terminal equipment.
Greenhouse gas emissions in the terminals come predominantly from diesel equipment. In 2023, APM Terminals became one of the founding members of the Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA), an industry group collectively calling for action to accelerate port decarbonization by making battery-electric cargo handling equipment (CHE) affordable and accessible within this decade.
“It’s remarkable to think that just 12 months ago, we launched ZEPA, and in that time, we’ve completed some crucial work across demand, standardization, and enabling infrastructure,” added Rashidbeigi. “That said, our goal remains to further close the price and performance gap, especially for straddle carriers. Alongside efforts like ZEPA, taking real action – such as this pilot with early-stage assets – is a vital step in that direction.”
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