Pecém Port inks deal with Casa dos Ventos for clean, certified power supply

Starting this October, the Port of Pecém will be powered by renewable energy certified by the International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC), a global benchmark ensuring energy traceability from generation to consumption. The R$41 million five-year contract with energy supplier Casa dos Ventos was secured through a public tender. It shifts the port’s energy sourcing from the regulated market to the Free Contracting Environment (ACL), ensuring price stability while reinforcing Pecém’s commitment to sustainability.

This shift is expected to generate savings, which will be reinvested into the port’s decarbonization efforts and a future policy to electrify port operations further, which currently sit at 70%. This includes container cranes, steel plate handlers, and the conveyor belt supplying raw materials to the ArcelorMittal steel plant. Over the coming years, Pecém plans to expand its use of renewable energy, particularly through the shore power system, allowing docked ships to reduce emissions by tapping into onshore electrical power.

According to José Carneiro Júnior, the engineer who led the technical studies at Pecém Complex, transitioning to the free energy market had long been under consideration. However, fiscal incentives and the volatility of energy prices previously made this shift less attractive. “That landscape has changed with the global push towards decarbonization and energy transition, aligning with our green hydrogen (H2V) projects and the electrification of port operations.”

To give an idea of scale, Pecém’s electricity consumption is equivalent to that of a city with 80,000 residents. “This reflects our focus on decarbonizing port operations, supported by the state government, the port authority, and operators who have been investing in electric equipment to replace or complement fossil-fuel-powered machinery,” explained Hugo Figueirêdo, president of Pecém Complex.

Marco Ximenes, Pecém’s Maintenance Manager, emphasized that replacing combustion engine equipment with electric alternatives is an irreversible trend driven by both sustainability and economic returns. “Electric machinery eliminates the need for fuel logistics, reduces environmental risks and costs from leaks or accidents, and generally has lower maintenance costs. Purchasing cheaper energy on the free market further accelerates this transition,” he added.

Currently, Pecém Port is powered by two transmission lines from the local utility, known for their high reliability. The port also has a gas-fired power plant capable of meeting its current operational demands. Ximenes noted that the next challenge is to further enhance the reliability of Pecém’s electrical system, with R$ 15 million in investments planned for next year to strengthen redundancies, protection, monitoring, and control measures.

Source: Informativo dos Portos

Click here to read the original news reporting: https://www.informativodosportos.com.br/complexo-do-pecem-firma-contrato-com-casa-dos-ventos-para-fornecimento-de-energia-limpa-e-certificada-para-o-porto/

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