DP World has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability journey by making both of its UK logistics hubs fossil-free. The removal of fossil diesel from operations at London Gateway is a noteworthy step in the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. In January, diesel-engine equipment and installations at London Gateway transitioned to operate on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable biodiesel derived from sustainable sources.
London Gateway has been actively pursuing sustainability initiatives, making substantial progress in the previous year towards electrification and the utilization of more carbon-efficient energy sources. The adoption of HVO at the hub is expected to result in a substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, saving approximately 8,300 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2024 alone. This is equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 4,700 family cars.
DP World plans to deploy HVO at London Gateway throughout 2024, with a targeted 26% net reduction in the company’s total carbon emissions from its fleet and installations by the year’s end. This strategic move follows DP World Southampton’s successful transition to HVO 18 months ago, which led to an impressive 90% reduction in carbon emissions.
Ahsan Agha, Vice President of Port Operations at DP World London Gateway, emphasized the critical nature of transitioning to HVO, stating, “The move demonstrates not only our goal of becoming a net-zero carbon organization by 2050 but also highlights our commitment to our customers’ sustainability success as well as our own.”
The sustainability benefits derived from the switch to HVO at London Gateway will be further augmented by the opening of the new £350 million fourth berth scheduled for this summer. This new facility will be operated by eight state-of-the-art fully electric straddle carriers, representing a £12 million investment. These electric straddle carriers form an integral part of London Gateway’s broader energy transition, contributing to the realization of the first all-electric fleet to go into commercial operation at a port anywhere in the world.
