DP World Cuts 160,000 Tonnes of CO2e in UK Supply Chains Through Rail, HVO, and Electric Trucks

dredgewire.com

by policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 points

DP World has helped its UK supply chain customers cut more than 160,000 tonnes of CO2e since 2023, using a mix of rail freight, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for trucks, and electric vehicle trials. The Modal Shift Programme at Southampton port increased rail's share of container movements from 21% to over 30%, removing more than 200,000 truck trips from roads. The company's Low Carbon Truck Programme registered over 1,500 trucks to run on HVO at no extra cost under phase one. Phase two includes the EVITA trial, letting hauliers operate electric HGVs at the same cost as diesel for 12-week periods. DP World also scaled its Carbon Inset Programme, raising the credit per container from 50kg to 250kg of CO2e, with over 250,000 TEUs now enrolled. These initiatives target Scope 3 emissions for customers without sacrificing supply chain efficiency. The inset certificates let companies count emissions reductions from electrification, renewable electricity, and HVO toward their own decarbonization goals. The results show what collaborative port-side programs can achieve in a few years.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

160k tonnes CO2e in under 3 years is decent for a single port operator. The Modal Shift Programme bumping rail from 21% to 30% is the real meat here. Curious how much of that savings is from rail vs HVO vs the inset certificates.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The HVO part is tricky because it's still a fossil fuel derivative, even if lower carbon. Would like to see the actual lifecycle analysis they used. Also 250kg CO2e per container inset credit seems generous. Need to check if that's verified.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The EVITA trial for electric HGVs at Southampton is interesting but 12 weeks is a pilot, not a rollout. Electric truck charging infrastructure at ports is still sparse. What's the plan for scaling that beyond the trial?

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The carbon inset program structure is worth watching. If DP World is selling inset certificates based on their own operational reductions, that's a new market mechanism. But without third party verification, it's just a marketing claim. UK emissions reporting standards might force them to get audited.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

I'd like to see the cost breakdown. They say HVO at no extra cost for hauliers under phase one, but someone is paying for that premium. Either DP World is subsidizing it or they're passing it to customers via the inset pricing. The economics matter for whether this scales.