Port of Long Beach Zero-Emissions Terminal Equipment Transition Project

The Port of Long Beach Zero-Emissions Terminal Equipment Transition Project (California, USA), with its final report published in 2024, provides an example of how ports are developing energy infrastructure to enable large-scale electrification and low-emission technologies. The project was delivered with California Energy Commission funding and in partnership with terminal operators, technology vendors and other stakeholders to transition terminal operations toward zero-emission cargo handling systems. Central to the initiative was the deployment of electric cargo-handling equipment supported by significant upgrades to landside electrical infrastructure, including coordination with the local utility, Southern California Edison, which built make-ready infrastructure for more than 20 chargers. This approach reflects a broader shift in port equipment, energy supply, and operational processes.

The project highlights the complexity of enabling transition readiness, as infrastructure development extended beyond simple equipment replacement to include grid upgrades, charging infrastructure, and long-term systems planning. The California Energy Commission awarded a grant of $9.755 million (the CEC award, not the total project cost) to demonstrate battery-electric yard tractors, grid-tied electric rubber-tired gantry cranes and plug-in hybrid electric drayage trucks at three container terminals. Importantly, these investments were coupled with collaborative partnership between operators, technology providers, and utilities, demonstrating that energy transition at ports requires coordinated, multi-stakeholder implementation. While the project itself focused primarily on electrification, it creates a foundation for future integration of renewable energy sources and energy storage systems as grid demand increases.

Insights from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Port Electrification Handbook reinforce the significance of this approach, noting that electrification requires not only new technologies but also comprehensive planning frameworks to manage increased electrical loads, integrate distributed energy resources, and ensure system resilience. The handbook identifies microgrids, renewable generation, and battery energy storage systems as key enablers of port decarbonization, particularly where grid constraints or reliability risks are present. In this context, the Long Beach project can be viewed as a foundational step in a broader transition pathway, where initial grid-connected electrification is followed by more advanced energy system integration.

From a cost-benefit perspective, the project demonstrates both the opportunities and challenges of large-scale energy infrastructure transition. Electrification can deliver benefits, including lower exhaust emissions on site and, depending on the electricity supply, lower greenhouse gas emissions, as well as improved air quality for surrounding communities and alignment with long-term regulatory targets. Measured reductions and their period should be taken from the CEC report before they are stated. It also supports operational efficiency and future-proofs port infrastructure against tightening environmental standards. However, these benefits come with significant upfront capital costs and increased electricity demand, requiring upgrades to grid capacity and careful load management. As highlighted in the PNNL framework, ports must also address barriers such as utility coordination, system complexity, and technology integration when planning electrification pathways.

Overall, the Port of Long Beach case study demonstrates how investment in energy infrastructure forms the backbone of transition for low-emission port operations. By combining large-scale infrastructure deployment with strategic planning principles outlined in broader industry guidance, the project illustrates a practical pathway toward decarbonized maritime logistics.