CEFC invests in greening SA ports

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has made its first investment into greening Australia’s ports through electrification.

A $70 million CEFC investment in Flinders Port Holdings (FPH) is the first-ever green financing of container stevedoring operations in Australia and will reduce emissions and help cut costs.

The shipping industry is traditionally a hard to abate sector – in 2021–22 the domestic maritime sector emitted around two million tonnes of climate pollution.

The CEFC finance will support a range of initiatives at FPH ports in South Australia, including installing solar systems and replacing internal combustion light vehicles with EVs.

It will also investigate the use of an all-electric crane at the Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal at Port Adelaide (pictured) – an Australian first.

The finance will also investigate how berthed ships at the port can be connected to the grid rather than relying on expensive diesel bunker fuel.

The Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said: “This is a milestone project as we take early steps towards the electrification of Australian ports, beginning in South Australia.

“This innovative partnership will enhance these ports and help support local jobs and industries.”

Australia recently partnered with Singapore on a $20 million project to reduce maritime emissions and signed a global pledge in 2022 to clean up the international shipping industry.

Picture: Flinders Ports