The Port of Tianjin, located in Northern China, has recently marked a significant milestone in its journey to becoming a smart and green energy center, with the successful installation of three wind turbines for the generation of clean energy. The project, known as the Green Intelligent Energy Demonstration Program Section C, Phase II, was a collaboration between COSCO SHIPPING and the Tianjin Port Group, and it is expected to have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development.
The project includes three GW171-5MW wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 15MW, which will provide 35 million kWh of clean electricity per year. According to estimates, this will save 14,000 tons of standard coal and reduce 34,895 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The turbines, standing over 100 meters high, were painted with gradient shades of green, blue, and red, symbolizing environmental friendliness, the port and hub, respectively.
“This is a significant step towards our goal of becoming a world-class smart green hub port,” said the Director of Technology of Huawei’s Smart Road, Waterway & Port Business Unit, Mr. Yue Kun. “The use of clean energy and automation not only helps us reduce our carbon footprint but also improves efficiency and safety in our operations.”
In addition to the wind turbines, the Port of Tianjin has also implemented automation in its operations. Container cranes work automatically, and intelligent robots handle horizontal transport. The use of new generation digital technologies such as 5G+AI has also been utilized to solve industry problems and promote digital transformation. As a result of automation, the new terminal only requires 200 workers to operate, while a traditional port would need 800 people.
The Port of Tianjin is a major modern port, boasting 300,000-ton-class terminals with a channel depth of 22 meters and 213 berths of various types. In 2022, its container throughput exceeded 21 million TEUs, ranking among the top 10 ports worldwide.
Digital Twin of the Port:
The Port of Tianjin has also partnered with Huawei to build a digital twin of the port, making it more automated and intelligent. This digital replica of the port allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of the port’s operations, improving efficiency and reducing the need for manual labor. With the digital twin, the port can also simulate various scenarios and make data-driven decisions to optimize operations and reduce costs.
“The digital twin of the port is a critical component of our smart and green strategy,” said Mr. Kun. “It allows us to monitor and optimize our operations in real-time, reducing the need for manual labor and improving efficiency.”
The digital twin of the port project consists of three parts: the construction of new automated terminals, the upgrading of traditional terminals, and comprehensive digital transformation. The Section C Terminal in the Beijiang Port Area of the Port of Tianjin was the world’s first smart, zero-carbon port terminal. It entered large-scale commercial operations in October 2021 and has been operating ever since.
5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies are applied at the terminal, with container cranes operating automatically and intelligent robots of the horizontal transportation system frequently coming and going. The robots are guided by the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to automatic locking/unlocking stations to unlock containers and then to the container yard along optimal driving routes that are calculated in real-time.
“These innovations being used at the Port of Tianjin are having a huge impact on the port industry, creating new value for ports by improving operating environments, driving green and low-carbon development, and increasing operational efficiency,” said Yang Jiemin, Vice President of Tianjin Port Group.
The digital twin of the Port of Tianjin project is a significant step towards automating and increasing the intelligence of the port’s operations. By using 5G and L4 autonomous driving technologies, the port has set a new standard for upgrading and transforming traditional container terminals worldwide. This digital twin project not only improves the operating environment, drives green and low-carbon development but also increases operational efficiency, promoting the intelligent development of the global port industry.
The Port of Tianjin’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development serves as an example for other ports around the world. As the global economy becomes increasingly reliant on shipping and logistics, it is essential for ports to adopt clean energy and automation to reduce their environmental impact and improve efficiency.
