The Port of Barcelona has awarded the Danish company Powercon the contract for the construction and commissioning of the first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system for cruise ships in the port area. This infrastructure will be installed in Terminal H of the Adossat Wharf, operated by MSC Cruises, and the contract is worth €12.2 million. This project is part of the Nexigen plan, which promotes the electrification of the docks as a key strategy for reducing emissions from maritime traffic.
The turnkey contract, valued at more than 12 million euros, includes the drafting of the project, the construction, the commissioning and the maintenance of the system for the first two years.
In addition, Powercon will carry out civil engineering work and install the cabling to the distribution center from where the energy supply will be managed.
Initially, a substation will be installed to supply power to cruise ships docked at the MSC terminal, located in a distribution center between terminals E and G. However, space has already been reserved to accommodate up to five additional OPS systems in the port.
This first system will be connected to the new medium-voltage network, and the power station will become operational in early 2027.
“With the completion of the first phase of the Nexigen Plan, with the commissioning of two pilot systems, the construction of the first OPS system for cruise ships represents a significant qualitative leap in the electrification of the docks of the Port of Barcelona, a key element in the decarbonization of port activity, which is now entering its decisive phase,” declared José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona.
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