The Port of Barcelona marks one year since the launch of its first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system for ferries, a technology that allows ships to connect to the power grid while they are docked and thus turn off their engines. Installed at the Sant Bertran dock, the system supplies 100% renewable electricity to the ferries operating at the terminal of Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona.
During this first year, the ferry Ciudad de Palma, which connects Barcelona and Palma daily, has regularly used this connection, avoiding the emission of 495 tons of CO₂. This figure adds to the 3,571 tons saved thanks to the OPS system of Hutchison Ports BEST, operational since the summer of 2024, bringing the total savings to more than 4,000 tons.
These actions are part of the Nexigen Plan, a strategy with more than 200 million euros of investment that aims to electrify the main docks of the port before 2030 and reduce port activity-related emissions by up to 47%.
Beyond reducing emissions, the OPS system at the Sant Bertran dock has a direct impact on the community. Its proximity to residential areas such as the Poble-sec neighborhood helps reduce both air pollution and noise generated by ships.
The first year of operation has also served as a pilot phase to optimize the system. One of the main challenges has been integrating the electrical connection into operations with very tight schedules, such as those of the ferries. Even so, the Ciudad de Palma has managed to connect for an average of almost five hours per call.
The Nexigen Plan continues to progress with key projects such as the construction of a new electrical substation and the deployment of a medium voltage network throughout the port area. These infrastructures will be fundamental to electrifying other terminals, including cruise terminals, where a new OPS system is already being installed at the terminal of MSC.