The Port of Barcelona tenders for 14 million the substation to electrify the docks

The plan to electrify the Port of Barcelona advances with the start of procedures to build the substation that will power the docks. The future facility, which will be located in the port itself, will be responsible for connecting to the high-voltage grid and distributing energy throughout the infrastructure, allowing ships to turn off their engines and stop burning fuel when docked.

The board of directors of the port authority has approved the tender for the works, which now have to receive the green light from the Government. With the aim that only one company is in charge of everything, the drafting of the project, the direction and execution of the works, and the maintenance and operation of the substation for a period of two years once construction is finished, have been included in a single tender document. With a budget of 14 million euros, the facility is expected to be completed in 2025.

The decision taken this Wednesday comes after Red Eléctrica authorized the connection of the Port of Barcelona to the future Ronda Litoral substation, which will be located very close to the Príncep d'Espanya Dock. With a capacity of 220 kV, the port will be one of the main consumers, with a demand of 80 MW. The connection to this infrastructure through an underground high-voltage line will entail an additional investment of 1.6 million euros.

The Port of Barcelona will invest more than 110 million euros in the electrification of the docks. The tender for the local substation is added to other packages already approved, such as the pilots at the Best terminal, where container ships dock and more emissions are generated, and at the ferry terminal, the closest to the urban area. All in all, the president of the port, Lluís Salvadó, has specified that actions worth 40 million euros have already been tendered.

The pilot tests with container ships and ferries will serve to ascertain the electrical demand of the ships, as well as to test the technology that will later be extended throughout the infrastructure. The main task of the connection points that will be installed on these docks is to transform the electricity that arrives from the electrical substation to the power required by each ship.

The tender for the local substation is added to other packages already approved, such as the pilots at the Best terminal and the ferry terminal

At the next board meeting, a fourth piece of the electrification plan is expected to materialize with the approval of the underground electrical connection between the Muelle de la Energia and the Muelle Adossat, with a budget of 15 million euros. The port plans to have all cruise berths, Muelle Prat and ferry terminals electrified in the next seven years. From 2030, electrification will be expanded to other areas, such as Muelle de la Energia or the APM terminal.

Preparing for the America's Cup

The board of directors of the Port of Barcelona also approved this Wednesday modifications to those concessions affected by the celebration of the America's Cup. The port authority has reached agreements with the Institut de la Nàutica, the Barcelona Nautic Center, Marina Barcelona 92 and Marina Port Vell to be able to locate the bases of four competitors in their facilities. Construction is expected to begin this April, with the aim that the six participating teams can train in Barcelona waters this summer. The only one that has been doing so for months is the Swiss one, Alinghi Red Bull Racing, which does not have sea in its country.