Standard Solar Delivers 7.2 MW System at Port Newark Container Terminal, Advancing Clean Energy at One of the East Coast’s Busiest Shipping Hubs

Standard Solar and Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) have completed a 7.2 megawatt (MW) solar project engineered to integrate with the operational complexity of an active marine terminal. The project delivers clean energy using rooftop and canopy systems without disrupting port activity. Completed in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the City of Newark, the award-winning system was strategically built over active truck lanes, rooftops and parking areas, maximizing available space while maintaining full operational continuity throughout construction. 

Built across the 320-acre terminal, the installation also has the capacity to send excess power to the Newark grid, supporting local energy resilience and emissions reduction. It now supplies approximately half of PNCT’s annual power needs and reduces emissions by 50 percent.

“Designing and installing a system of this scale within a fully operational, high-traffic container facility required custom engineering and constant coordination,” said C.J. Colavito, General Manager of Integrated Project Teams, Standard Solar. “From elevated canopy structures to rooftop arrays, every component was designed to work around ongoing port activity without compromising safety or performance.”

The project features:

• 3.8 MW of elevated canopy-mounted arrays over active truck lanes

• 3.4 MW of additional rooftop and parking canopy arrays

• Real-time dashboard for monitoring energy production and carbon savings

“This project showcases the ingenuity and adaptability of solar to thrive in even the most complex, space-constrained logistics environments,” said Rick Berube, Chief Operations Officer, Standard Solar. “We’re proud to help PNCT lead the way toward a cleaner, more resilient port, benefiting not just terminal operations but the Newark community and region as a whole.”

“Working with our partners for a more sustainable Newark is an immense priority for my administration,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “We are acting locally while thinking globally on this world-changing issue. Port Newark’s solar energy project will help make our city healthier for present and future generations. We must continue efforts that combine our local infrastructure with clean power generation, driving Newark Forward — building new jobs, increasing the air quality of our community, and doing our part to fight climate change.”

The PNCT solar installation is part of a larger clean energy roadmap developed under a 2011 lease agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. PNCT has implemented a suite of complementary initiatives, including LED lighting upgrades, hybrid straddle carriers, energy-efficient electric cranes and propane-powered yard tractors, all aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing port efficiency.

Standard Solar owns and will operate and maintain the system long-term, ensuring consistent clean energy production and measurable environmental impact for years to come.

“PNCT, Standard Solar and Mayor Baraka, working together with the Port Authority, have been relentless in partnering for responsible expansion of the port to meet the shipping needs of our growing regional and national economy, without sacrificing the health and well-being of our neighbors,” said Jim Pelliccio, president and CEO of Port Newark Container Terminal. “Our investments in sustainability have set the groundwork for an ambitious vision to transform the future of Port Newark — setting unparalleled standards for efficiency, environmental responsibility and economic prosperity.”

Standard Solar | standardsolar.com

Port Newark Container Terminal | https://www.pnct.net/