NEWSMAKERS - Adani Ports & SEZ
When A Port Runs On Renewable Power
Himanshu Sharma
Odisha’s Dhamra Port has switched its entire electricity requirement to renewable power, setting a new benchmark for decarbonising large-scale port operations.
On the Odisha coast, at Dhamra Port, the cranes keep moving, cargo keeps flowing and trains keep rolling, around the clock. What has changed is the power behind it all.
Since August 2026, Dhamra Port has been running its entire electricity requirement on renewable power, becoming India’s first large-scale private multi-cargo port handling more than 48 MMT of cargo annually to operate entirely on renewable electricity.
A 100% subsidiary of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL) now meets more than 90 lakh units of electricity demand every month through renewable sources. At its current operating level, renewable power consumption exceeds 108 GWh annually, advancing APSEZ’s long-term Net-Zero ambitions.
The transition brings together multiple renewable power sources. Around 25–30% of Dhamra’s requirement comes from APSEZ’s Captive Hybrid Plant at Khavda in Gujarat, another 10–15% through third-party access, while the balance is met through a Green Consumer arrangement with the Odisha distribution utility.
For a port that never sleeps, the impact goes beyond the power bill. Renewable electricity now supports energy-intensive operations across cargo handling, storage, rail-linked activities and other critical infrastructure , reducing emissions associated with purchased electricity while maintaining the rhythm of a busy logistics hub.
Located on Odisha’s coast between Haldia and Paradip, Dhamra is one of eastern India’s key deep-draft ports. With an installed capacity of 60 MMT, it handled 48.8 MMT of cargo in FY26, supported by six dry cargo berths, mechanised storage facilities and robust rail and road connectivity.
Dhamra’s transformation shows that even the most energy-intensive logistics infrastructure can make the switch to cleaner power — without slowing down the movement of India’s economy.