Bilbao and the European Commission sign the contract to start the electrification of the docks
The Port Authority of Bilbao and the European Commission have signed the Subsidy contract for the BilbOPS project, within the CEF Transport 2021-2027 aid programme, after which five million euros of European pre-financing have already been received to start the work. This initiative requires an investment of 51.8 million euros, of which 30%, that is, 14.2 million, will be subsidized through this CEF Transport call. It also has a subsidy of 4.3 million euros for the new A5 wharf through the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism. The first of the BilbOPS project tenders will take place at the end of 2022 and the infrastructure is expected to come into service in 2025.
Thanks to this strategic investment, in 2025 the port of Bilbao will have 30 MW of installed power for OPS in the docks where the regular lines of the port of Bilbao dock, both for containers and for cruise ships and ferries. OPS technology – onshore power supply – will allow the supply of electrical energy to docked ships, which will thus be able to turn off their auxiliary diesel engines during their stay in port. Thus, the emission of greenhouse gases will be reduced by 40% and vibrations and noise that are harmful to the environment and the citizens of the populations around the port will be reduced.
In order for electricity to have a zero-emission origin, the project contemplates carrying out various actions for the generation of renewable energies, such as the installation of photovoltaic panels in the breakwaters and canopies in parking areas, and the placement in the port installations of more wind turbines that provide wind power.
The BilbOPS Project and other complementary initiatives being developed by the Port Authority of Bilbao are aimed at providing a better service to its customers, while contributing to achieving the ‘Fit for 55’ objectives of the European Union for the reduction of 55 emissions. % for the year 2030.