V.O.C. Port Becomes India’s First Scope-2 Emission-Free Major Port

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, became India’s first major port to achieve Scope-2 Emission-Free status on 10 August 2026. The port also became the first in India to secure ISO 50001:2018 certification for its Energy Management System.

Scope-2 Emissions and Energy Management

Scope-2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, or cooling. A port can record zero Scope-2 emissions when its renewable energy generation exceeds its total electricity consumption during a defined period.

Independent verification for the fourth quarter of the 2025–26 financial year confirmed that VOC Port’s renewable energy generation was higher than its electricity use. Certification data showed that renewable energy met 93.89% of the port’s total electricity consumption during the full 2025–26 financial year.

Certification and Green Infrastructure

Bureau Veritas recognised the port as Scope-2 Emission-Free, and Indian Register Quality Systems awarded the ISO 50001:2018 certification. ISO 50001:2018 is an international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an energy management system.

VOC Port’s active green infrastructure includes 7.04 MW of solar capacity and 2 MW of wind capacity. The port has also planned 2 MW of ground-mounted solar capacity, 17 MW of wind capacity with 5 MWh battery storage, and a Green Hydrogen Hub.

Related Institutional and Digital Initiatives

On 23 June 2026, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal released the port’s first Sustainability Report. The report stated that clean energy transitions helped reduce the port’s net carbon emissions by 45%.

On the same date, the port signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya for logistics education. The port also launched PortGPT, an enterprise-grade generative AI mobile app, as the first such app implemented by an Indian major port.

Important Facts for Exams

• V.O. Chidambaranar Port is located in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, and it is one of India’s major ports.
• Scope-2 emissions are indirect emissions linked to purchased electricity and other energy services.
• ISO 50001:2018 is the international standard for energy management systems.
• Battery storage is often used with solar and wind power to balance variable renewable generation.