The Port of Hueneme, California and commercial-scale solar developer ForeFront Power have energized a new solar carport project over the Port’s automobile staging area, officials said Oct. 30.

The 913 kW project comes at no upfront cost to the Port or the Oxnard Harbor District Administration, which oversees the Port of Hueneme. The project will help stabilize electrical costs for the Port in one of the U.S.’s most grid-strained states, and contribute to the Port’s goal of eliminating all emissions from its operations by 2030.

“The Port of Hueneme strives to be a leader in maritime sustainability, and this project demonstrates how decarbonization creates both fiscal and environmental upsides for Californians,” says Jason Hodge, president of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Directors. “This solar carport turns our own headquarters into a working example of sustainable seaport operations and takes us one step closer to becoming the first fully zero-emission port in the United States.”

Now complete, the project will generate more than 1.4 GWh of renewable energy on an annual basis. The output will also eliminate 730 metric tons of carbon emissions every year, equivalent to removing 170 traditional gasoline-powered vehicles from the road. Any excess electricity that goes unused by the Port will feed into the local grid to strengthen power resiliency.

All part of the plan

The Port of Hueneme pursued ForeFront and this project as part of its sustainability initiative, “Charging Forward to Zero Emissions by 2030.” As part of the program, the Californian port authority aims to make the Port the first in the U.S. to run on zero carbon emissions.

ForeFront Power CEO Ruben R. Fontes says this sustainability plan is moving the Port of Hueneme into the future, as well as other ports looking to lead by example.

“The Port of Hueneme is a vital economic engine, and its energy needs created an opportunity to lead by example,” he says. “Generating clean energy on-site is driving greater efficiency while advancing the environmental stewardship that is so important to the future of the maritime industry.”

The project now operates through a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Forefront, charging the port a fixed electricity rate which is lower than the utility. The 20-year PPA “aligns with the Port of Hueneme’s financial mandate of self-sufficiency,” representatives say, providing budget certainty and insulating the Port from potential future utility rate hikes.

“This project demonstrates that protecting the environment and being good financial stewards go hand in hand because sustainable port operations can bring cost savings,” Hodge adds. “It’s another meaningful step for the Port of Hueneme as we charge forward to Zero Emissions by 2030.”

— Solar Builder magazine