The contract logistics arm of DHL in Thailand is on track to meet its zero carbon emissions target by 2050, as it invested US$1.2 million (฿36 million) for solar panels to optimise energy consumption, and rolled out ‘greener innovations’ throughout its operations.

The panels, covering the size of three football fields or around 11,000 sqm, were installed on the rooftops of four warehouses at its Bangna Logistics Campus in Samutprakarn.

DHL expects to generate enough energy to fulfill 38 percent of total energy requirements in the facilities, and cut energy usage by 20 percent each year. Apart from the rooftop solar panels, the company has also deployed motion sensor LED lights, solar panel lights and implemented waste management.

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DHL said maintaining a sustainable transportation operation is also a main focus, with transport-related carbon footprint cut 6 percent year-on-year in 2020 through sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.

The supply chain team in Thailand uses solar roof technology from the UK for its fleet of 36 vehicles, it also uses telematics in its fleet, extended to subcontractors, to optimise routes and address inefficiencies to save fuel. All trucks also use oxygenated fuels, such as biofuel blends, to reduce pollution, according to the company.

“Sustainability is always on the top on our agenda. Over the years, DHL Supply Chain Thailand has implemented a number of innovations in Thailand within our transport and warehousing operations to achieve energy consumption efficiency. This solar project has contributed significantly to our agenda of operating in carbon neutral buildings and aids us to meet Deutsche Post DHL Group’s (DPDHL Group) mission to reduce all logistics-related emissions by 2050,” said Mike Davies, COO of DHL Supply Chain Thailand Cluster.