The Port of Barcelona has installed its first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) substation as part of the Nexigen project, marking a significant step towards establishing the OPS system, which will provide electricity to container ships docked at the Spanish port, allowing them to switch off their engines and reduce emissions.
The OPS substation, assembled by PowerCon company in Denmark, consists of six modules and can connect two container vessels simultaneously. Its arrival marks a milestone for the Hutchison Ports BEST terminal electrification project, which has already seen civil engineering and electrical network works completed, coinciding with terminal expansion efforts.
Over the next four months, the OPS connection will be finalized with the installation of equipment at the wharf for vessel connection, along with necessary checks and tests. If all progresses as planned, clean and 100% renewable energy will be supplied to ships starting in July.
Concurrently, the Port of Barcelona is engaging with various shipping companies to coordinate the arrival and connection of ships already equipped with OPS connections.
In addition, the OPS installations at the BEST terminal and the ongoing construction at the Ferry Terminal will serve as pilot tests, gathering data and insights to optimize the expansion of OPS and the medium-voltage network that will provide renewable electricity to them.
"The arrival of the OPS of the BEST terminal is a very important milestone in the roll-out of the Nexigen project. It is the result of years of work to set up the first system of this type in southern Europe and the first part of a network that will make it possible to significantly reduce the emissions generated by port activity", said Lluís Salvadó, president of the Port of Barcelona.
The Nexigen project represents a significant investment by the Port of Barcelona aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from port operations by 50% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Electrifying the main wharves at the Port of Barcelona is expected to result in the elimination of 66,000 tonnes of CO2 and 1,234 tonnes of NOx emissions generated by port activities.
The OPS installation project at Hutchison Ports BEST is being co-financed through the Sustainable and Digital Transport Support Programme under Measure 11, which supports the adoption of alternative fuels in ports and airports through competitive funding opportunities.
