The OPS will be connected to a new medium-voltage network that is being developed throughout the Port of Barcelona to electrify the main wharves. The port's flagship substation, which will be a key part of this network, is expected to be operational by early 2027.
Additionally, the installation includes underwater drilling between the Energy and Adossat wharves, which is currently under construction. This infrastructure will support sufficient power supply for the electrification of cruise terminals, according to the Port of Barcelona.
José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona, emphasized the importance of the OPS system, stating: “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, the key element in the decarbonisation of port activity, which is now entering its decisive phase.”
PowerCon's responsibilities will include conducting civil engineering work and installing the necessary cabling to connect the energy supply system. Initially, the OPS substation, which will provide energy to cruise ships at the MSC terminal, will be located in the distribution center. This center has been designed to accommodate up to five additional OPS systems in the future. From there, the OPS will be connected to the MSC terminal via underground cabling.
Similar to other recent projects, such as the system installed at the BEST container terminal in July 2024 and at the Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona, this new OPS system is tailored to suit the specific operations of the MSC terminal. The terminal was originally designed with the installation of the OPS in mind.
This development follows a similar move made by APM Terminals at its Barcelona terminal in December 2024, when it introduced the Mediterranean region’s first electric straddle carriers, a project supported by €3 million in funding from the Spanish government.
