Energy Consumption and Carbon Footprint of the Port of Sines: Contribution to Maritime Transport Sustainability

Abstract

Calculating the energy consumption and carbon footprint is essential for maritime industry sustainability, driving informed decisions and innovation. This study assesses the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the Port of Sines in Portugal to support its decarbonization and energy transition, based on the scopes defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The proposed calculation model is detailed using different data sources for the 2018–2022 period. For each terminal, the monthly and annual energy consumption and carbon footprint are calculated, considering land and maritime activities into the port jurisdiction area. The results show that more than 99% of the port’s total energy consumption and carbon footprint are due to the operations and activities of the diferente terminals. On average, the Port of Sines consumes 422,378.45 MWh/year and has a carbono footprint of 224.63185 tCO2eq/year. The analysis reveals a non-linear relationship between energy and carbon footprint, due to the different port activities, emphasizing the need for tailored decarbonization strategies for each terminal.