The Port of Barcelona, in collaboration with Danish engineering company PowerCon A/S, has officially commenced the construction of its first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system for cruise ships. The OPS will be installed at the MSC terminal on the Adossat Wharf, marking a milestone in the port’s ambitious decarbonisation and electrification strategy.
A New Era of Green Cruise Infrastructure
The MSC terminal, opened this year and designed for sustainability, will be the first cruise facility in Barcelona to benefit from an OPS connection. Once operational by 2027, the system will supply 100% renewable electricity, allowing docked cruise ships to shut down their engines and drastically reduce emissions at berth.
PowerCon A/S has been awarded the complete project, which includes civil works and the cabling infrastructure leading to the distribution centre that will manage the power flow. During the initial planning meeting, project leaders from both the Port’s Shorepower Unit and PowerCon visited the site and laid the groundwork for construction.
Ana Arévalo, Head of the Shorepower Unit, emphasized “the MSC terminal OPS is scheduled to come on stream in 2027, along with the substation that we will use to deliver 100% renewable electricity to all terminals. It will be a pivotal year for electrification of the Port of Barcelona wharves.”
Nexigen Plan: Laying the Groundwork for Full Port Electrification
The OPS development at the MSC terminal is part of the Port of Barcelona’s broader Nexigen Plan, a long-term electrification initiative involving an investment of nearly €200 million. In 2024, the plan entered a crucial phase with the launch of pilot OPS systems at the BEST and Grimaldi terminals. These systems already supply green shore power to container ships and ferries, significantly cutting emissions.
The construction of a new substation and a medium-voltage power network is currently underway to extend electric power access across multiple wharves. The experience gained from pilot systems is informing the deployment of future OPS infrastructure, including the high-capacity system at the MSC cruise terminal.
The Port of Barcelona’s OPS project for cruise ships marks a transformative leap toward cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable port operations. As part of the wider Nexigen Plan, the initiative reflects Barcelona’s global leadership in port electrification and reinforces its role in setting new environmental standards for maritime logistics and tourism. By 2027, cruise ships docking at the MSC terminal will connect to renewable energy from shore, signaling a major achievement in the city’s decarbonisation journey.
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Source: AJOT
