Bilbao Port and VINCI Energies Spain trust Ormazabal and Ingeteam to electrify the docks of the Port of Bilbao.

The use of OPS technology will allow the ships to be supplied with electricity from the power grid at docks A-5.1 and A-6.1, without the need to keep the auxiliary engines running and eliminating all noise, vibrations and emissions

• The joint solution responds to the Port of Bilbao’s strategic plan to electrify up to 11 berths.

• Both companies confirm their position as leaders in OPS-type solutions, having supplied their technology for the electrification of the Port of Cádiz last year.

The The electrification of European port activity has emerged as one of the major technological challenges for operators of these infrastructures, who, amidst the rapid growth of maritime transport, must comply with European regulations to ensure their ecological transition and eliminate environmental pollution, both in ports and in neighbouring towns.

The BilbOPS project is a strategic investment that aims to electrify the docks with 11 connection points, integrating the generation of renewable energy from 4 photovoltaic plants. Bilbao Port and VINCI Energies Spain have entrusted Ormazabal and Ingeteam to guarantee the medium-voltage electricity supply to the ships that dock at docks A-5.1 and A-6.1 at the Port of Bilbao, the main port infrastructure in northern Spain. This is the first phase, which will subsequently address all the cruise, ferry and container docks, incorporating solutions for both power supply and control and protection of the port-ship interconnections themselves.

Ormazabal and Ingeteam will supply the first 2 connection points to electrify the ro-ro traffic berth at the port of Bilbao. In this way, they will provide a comprehensive project, which includes all the necessary service and user layers, completed with a highly customized supply, and with a design aimed at achieving plug & play functionality play in the field.

This type of solution, called On-shore Power Supply (OPS), allows ships to be supplied with electricity from the port’s electrical grid, without the need to keep their auxiliary engines running to produce it, eliminating all noise, vibrations and polluting gases that are harmful to the population centers closest to these infrastructures. Both companies deployed this technology last year at the Port of Cádiz, electrifying the passenger terminal of the Cádiz infrastructure.

Illustration 1. Graphic explanation of what an OPS is (Source: Ormazabal)

Technical solution for port electrification (OPS Technology)

The joint solution between Omexom Spain, the brand specializing in energy infrastructure of VINCI Energies Spain, and its partners, Ormazabal and Ingeteam, enables a high level of engineering integration that will improve the overall quality of the service, reducing commissioning times, increasing the simplicity and maintenance of the electrical connection, avoiding installation errors in the field, and guaranteeing system operation with the most demanding quality levels. It will also contribute to a 25% increase in energy transfer.

Thus, the solution, developed jointly by Ormazabal and Ingeteam, is based on a grid connection center with output to two OPS facilities. The supply of electrical power is guaranteed thanks to two transformers, which will be responsible for reducing the input voltage of the grid; then two converters manufactured by Ingeteam establish the operating frequency of the docked ship; and finally, two other transformers will once again raise the voltage for distribution around the port.

Thanks to the expert knowledge of both companies, the same booster transformer can deliver power to the ship automatically, simplifying connection operations.

About the BilbaOPS project

The BilbOPS project, developed by the Port Authority of Bilbao, is a strategic investment that aims to establish green corridors with the ports in its area of ​​influence, mainly in northern Europe. The first action involves electrifying the container, cruise ship and ferry docks with 11 connection points, integrating energy generation from 4 photovoltaic plants. The ultimate goal is to achieve at least 30% of the energy supplied to ships from renewable sources.

To finance the project, the Port Authority of Bilbao has received funding from the European Union’s NEXT GENERATION and CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY (CEF) programs.

Thanks to BilbOPS, the Port of Bilbao will be closer to meeting the European Union’s “Fit For 55” targets, reducing the Port’s greenhouse gases by 40%. With this project and other complementary measures, the 55% emissions reduction target set by the European Union for 2030 will be achieved. BilbOPS will allow a qualitative leap forward in the Atlantic Arc, adapting the infrastructure of the Port of Bilbao and providing this new service.