Queen Elizabeth II Dock and the nearby automotive hub on the banks of the Mersey will be powered by a new hydropower generator, owner Peel Ports says. Tony McDonough reports

Peel Ports will install a hydropower generator to provide up to 1.5m kW of electricity to the Queen Elizabeth II Dock and the nearby automotive hub on the banks of the Mersey.

As part of its drive to become a net zero ports operator, Peel Ports has brought in Czech renewable energy specialist Hydropol to install a twin Archimedean screw generator at QEII Dock’s 30ft lock in Eastham in Wirral.

It will generate up to 1.5m kWh per year – enough energy to power an estimated 190,000 homes for a day.

As well as providing energy to the dock, the generator will also power the nearby £10m green automotive hub which opened in late 2023. It provides a supply chain link via sea between the Stellantis factory in Ellesmere Port and its sister plant in Vigo in Spain.

Lewis McIntyre, managing director – port services at Peel Ports Group, said: “The introduction of hydropower at Queen Elizabeth II Dock is another major achievement as we seek to make our operations greener and more sustainable for the future.

“The amount of renewable energy set to be produced is significant and builds on Eastham Dock’s sustainable credentials.”

Introducing hydropower to Queen Elizabeth II Dock is the latest move by Peel Ports to improve the sustainability of its operations across the UK. It has already reduced scope 1 and scope 2 emissions across its ports by 32%, against its 2020 baseline.

READ MORE: Cammell Laird to deliver £7m green energy project

Scope 1 emissions are emissions controlled directly by the company while scope 2 and scope 3 emissions are a consequence of the activities of the company but occur from sources not owned or controlled by it.

In 2021 Peel Ports announced its commitment to becoming a net zero port operator by 2040, 10 years ahead of the UK Government’s target. It was the first UK port operator to set this target.