Briefing
Roadmap to a zero-emission port: A case study in Port of Yangpu
This briefing addresses the urgent need to decarbonize ports, focusing on the Port of Yangpu in Hainan, China. Despite China being home to seven of the top 10 global container ports, the paper highlights a lack of climate ambitions among these ports. The Port of Yangpu, anticipating significant growth in ship traffic, is presented with an opportunity to develop a decarbonization strategy.
The analysis outlines three scenarios—Announced Ambitions , Partial Decarbonization , and Full Decarbonization)—to assess technological roadmaps for achieving zero well-to-wake (WTW) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions by 2050. While the Announced Ambitions scenario falls short, the more aggressive Partial and Full Decarbonization scenarios, relying on electrification and zero-emission fuels, offer potential solutions, with the Full Decarbonization scenario achieving zero emissions by 2050.
The case study acknowledges varying costs associated with these technological pathways and suggests that economic benefits and environmental advantages could outweigh these costs . The briefing emphasizes integrating decarbonization plans into development strategies, refining roadmaps based on cost-effectiveness, and early planning for achieving decarbonization goals. The analysis stresses the necessity for the Port of Yangpu to adopt electrification and zero-emission fuels to meet ambitious decarbonization goals by 2050 and caution against relying on fossil liquified natural gas as a bridging fuel solution given the issue of methane slip with marine engines.