Port of Barcelona Awards PowerCon €12.2M Contract for First OPS System for Cruise Ships
The Port of Barcelona has taken a significant step toward its decarbonization strategy by selecting Danish company PowerCon to build its first onshore power supply (OPS) system for cruise vessels. The €12.2 million (approximately $13.8 million) contract will see the installation of the OPS at Terminal H of the Adossat Wharf, operated by MSC Cruises, a subsidiary of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
A Pioneering Milestone in Port Electrification
This will be the first OPS system in the port connected to a new medium-voltage power network, currently under development, which will eventually electrify the port’s main wharves. The cornerstone of this electrification effort is a new port substation, expected to be operational by early 2027.
Combined with underwater drilling between the Energy and Adossat Wharves, the OPS will enable future electrification across cruise terminals, reducing emissions from docked ships and supporting cleaner port operations.
“The construction of the first OPS for cruise ships represents an important qualitative leap in the electrification of the wharves of the Port of Barcelona—key to the decarbonisation of port activity, which is now entering its decisive phase,” said José Alberto Carbonell, President of the Port of Barcelona.
OPS Infrastructure Tailored for Expansion
PowerCon’s responsibilities include civil engineering, cable installation, and the development of a distribution center that will manage the energy flow. Initially, the OPS substation will serve MSC’s terminal, but infrastructure has been planned to accommodate up to five additional OPS systems, preparing the port for expanded electrification capabilities.
The OPS will be linked via underground cabling from the distribution center to the MSC terminal—facilities that were reportedly constructed with future OPS integration in mind. This mirrors efforts at other terminals in the port, including the BEST container terminal, which received its OPS in July 2024, and the Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona.
Broader Electrification Initiatives
The new OPS project is part of a broader commitment to greener operations in Barcelona. In December 2024, APM Terminals announced the arrival of the Mediterranean’s first electric straddle carriers at its Barcelona terminal, a project co-funded with €3 million from the Spanish government.
With these developments, the Port of Barcelona continues to solidify its position as a leader in sustainable maritime infrastructure in the Mediterranean.
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