Port Electrification, Operational Efficiency, and Carbon-Emission Reduction: A Panel Study of Indonesian Port Operations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/logistica.v3i4.1738Keywords:
sustainable maritime logistics, green ports, carbon-emission intensity, equipment electrification, shore power, panel data, IndonesiaAbstract
Ports play a strategic role in maritime logistics but also contribute substantially to carbon emissions through cargo-handling equipment, terminal electricity consumption, vessel berthing activities, and landside transport operations. This study aims to examine the effects of equipment electrification, shore-power availability, renewable-electricity utilization, digitalization, and operational efficiency on carbon-emission intensity in Indonesian port operations while evaluating the potential of integrated green-port strategies for emission reduction.
The study employs a quantitative panel-data approach using a balanced dataset of 32 port-year observations from eight major Indonesian ports covering the 2021–2024 period. Total operational emissions are estimated from diesel consumption, electricity use, and vessel-hotelling activities, while carbon-emission intensity is measured as tonnes of carbon dioxide per 1,000 throughput units. Panel-regression analysis is specified to evaluate the relationships between technological and operational variables and emission intensity, complemented by policy-scenario simulations assessing the effects of equipment electrification, shore power, renewable electricity, digital operational optimization, and an integrated green-port package.
The results indicate that average operational emissions declined from 12,612.66 tCO₂ in 2021 to 6,790.22 tCO₂ in 2024, representing a 46.16% reduction. Carbon-emission intensity decreased from 17.09 to 8.53 tCO₂ per 1,000 throughput units, equivalent to a 50.09% improvement in environmental efficiency. During the same period, equipment electrification increased from 9.18% to 48.80%, while average vessel berth time declined from 42.13 to 29.68 hours. The average Green Port Index reached 55.93 in 2024, indicating a medium-to-high level of sustainability transformation. Scenario analysis suggests that additional equipment electrification could reduce operational emissions by approximately 18%, universal shore power by 9%, renewable electricity by 7%, and digital operational optimization by 8%. When implemented simultaneously, the integrated green-port package is estimated to reduce operational emissions by approximately 36.1%, demonstrating that coordinated technological and operational interventions generate greater environmental benefits than isolated measures.
The study concludes that successful port decarbonization requires the integration of clean technologies, low-carbon electricity, operational digitalization, and efficiency improvements rather than reliance on a single mitigation strategy. The proposed panel-data framework and Green Port Index provide practical tools for evaluating port sustainability and supporting evidence-based policy development. These findings contribute to the growing literature on sustainable maritime logistics and offer policy guidance for accelerating the transition toward low-carbon port operations in Indonesia and comparable emerging maritime economies.
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