Electrical supply to ships
The Port of Barcelona has launched an ambitious plan to develop the electrification of docks, Nexigen, and thus be able to supply electrical energy of renewable origin to ships during their stay in port. Nexigen's main goal is to achieve a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 and to be a carbon-neutral port by 2050. This plan is associated with a large investment by the Port.
Nexigen: towards a carbon-neutral Port
Nexigen contemplates a global investment of 130 million euros, with a clear goal: the connection of ships to the general electrical network, during berthing in the port (Onshore Power Supply, OPS), which will avoid the use of auxiliary generators. Therefore, the emissions of polluting gases from ships during berthing will be eliminated.
The electrical energy supplied will have certification of 100% renewable origin, so that greenhouse gas emissions will also be reduced.
Nexigen, the Dock Electrification Plan, is aligned with the Port of Barcelona's environmental sustainability goal, Strategic Plan 2021-2025. It is a key part of the Port of Barcelona's energy transition plan, which aims to be a carbon-neutral port by 2050.
What are OPS ('onshore power supply')
Deployment of power supply solutions for Cold Ironing
The Port of Barcelona is leading the project Deployment of power solutions for Cold Ironing in the ports of Barcelona and the Balearic Islands (OPS4B&B), subsidised by the Support Programme for Sustainable and Digital Transport, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union, NextGenerationEU.
- T-Pilot OPS BEST terminal: it will allow the supply of electricity from renewable sources to container ships with a power demand of up to 8 MW or two ships simultaneously with a lower power demand. It is under construction and will be operational in early 2024.
- OPS pilot in Terminal Ferry de Barcelona (TFB): will make it possible to supply electrical energy from renewable sources to ships and ferries with a power demand of up to 4 MW. The necessary infrastructure to connect the vessels to the electrical grid at TFB will have two connection points at the San Beltran dock. The APB and the Grimaldi group have signed a collaboration agreement to develop the OPS pilot, with Grimaldi connecting the Trasmed GLE boats to the new infrastructure, which will come into operation at the beginning of 2024. In fact, for the overall success of the project, collaboration with companies that use OPS systems is very important.
