PSA Antwerp becomes ZEPA’s newest member in the drive for cleaner ports

PSA Antwerp (PSAA) has officially joined the Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA), a global initiative that brings together terminal operators, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and ports around a shared ambition: accelerating the transition towards battery-electric port equipment and, ultimately, net-zero emissions ports.

Joining ZEPA aligns seamlessly with PSA’s broader climate goals. The PSA Group aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. PSAA is taking a range of actions to meet these targets, with the decarbonization of its straddle carrier fleet — the Green Straddle Carrier Program — being a key element. As part of this program, PSAA is evaluating fully electric straddle carriers as one of the different potential decarbonization technologies.

Straddle carriers at the heart of the transition

“Straddle carriers are essential for our daily terminal operations but are also responsible for the vast majority of our direct emissions in Belgium,” says Francis De Ruytter, Regional Head Sustainability PSA Europe, Mediterranean, and the Americas. “That’s why we are investing heavily in our Green Straddle Carrier Program.”

Stronger together through ZEPA

However, the shift to zero-emission port equipment presents significant technical and financial challenges. Edward Tah, Managing Director PSA Belgium, explains, “Equipment from different manufacturers often lacks full interoperability, and there are very few standardized charging infrastructure solutions available. On top of that, battery-electric port equipment requires significant investments. Through this alliance, we aim to accelerate the transition by working closely with other front-runners to scale up zero-emission equipment. The unique collaboration across the entire value chain — from terminals to manufacturers and ports — is key to making this possible.”