Bilbao Port and VINCI Energies Spain place their trust in Ormazabal and Ingeteam to electrify the docks at the Port of Bilbao

The use of On-shore Power Supply (OPS) technology will enable ships to connect to the onshore power grid at docks A-5.1 and A-6.1, eliminating the need to run auxiliary engines and thus removing all noise, vibrations, and emissions

• The joint solution delivered by Ormazabal and Ingeteam supports Bilbao Port’s strategic plan to electrify up to 11 berths
• Both companies reaffirm their position as key players in OPS solutions, having previously deployed their technology to electrify the Port of Cádiz in the past year

Electrifying port operations across Europe has become one of the major technological challenges for port operators. Amidst the growing demand for maritime transport, they must meet EU regulations to support ecological transition and eliminate environmental pollution at ports and surrounding areas.

The BilbOPS project represents a strategic investment aimed at electrifying the docks with 11 shore power connection points, integrating renewable energy generation from four photovoltaic plants. Bilbao Port and VINCI Energies Spain have entrusted Ormazabal and Ingeteam to ensure medium-voltage power supply to vessels docking at terminals A-5.1 and A-6.1 of the Port of Bilbao, the main port infrastructure in northern Spain. This is the initial phase, which will later extend to the entire cruise, ferry, and container terminals, integrating both power supply and control and protection systems for the ship-to-shore interconnections.

Ormazabal and Ingeteam will deliver the first two OPS connection points to supply shore power to ro-ro traffic berths at the Port of Bilbao. This fully integrated project covers all required service and user layers, with a highly customized supply and a plug & play design to facilitate field installation and operation.

These On-shore Power Supply (OPS) solutions allow vessels to draw electricity directly from the port’s grid without needing to keep their auxiliary engines running, completely eliminating noise, vibration, and harmful emissions near port infrastructures. Both companies successfully deployed this technology last year at the Port of Cádiz, electrifying the passenger terminal of the Andalusian port.

Technical Solution for Port Electrification (OPS Technology)

The joint solution developed by Omexom Spain, the VINCI Energies Spain brand specialized in power infrastructure, and its partners Ormazabal and Ingeteam, offers a high level of engineering integration. This improves overall service quality, reduces commissioning time, simplifies electrical connection and maintenance operations, minimizes on-site installation errors, and ensures system performance meets the highest quality standards. It also boosts energy transfer efficiency by 25%.

The OPS solution developed by Ormazabal and Ingeteam is based on a shore connection substation linked to two OPS units. The electrical supply is ensured through two transformers that step down the voltage from the grid. Then, two Ingeteam-made frequency converters adjust the power to the vessel’s operating frequency. Finally, another set of transformers steps up the voltage again for port distribution.

Thanks to the deep technical expertise of both companies, the same step-up transformer can automatically deliver power to the vessel, simplifying ship-to-shore connection operations.

About the BilbOPS Project

The BilbOPS project, developed by the Bilbao Port Authority, is a strategic investment aimed at establishing green corridors with its main partner ports, especially in Northern Europe. The first step is to electrify the container, cruise, and ferry terminals with 11 shore power connections, integrating energy from four photovoltaic plants. The ultimate goal is to ensure that at least 30% of the power supplied to ships comes from renewable sources.

The project is co-financed by the European Union’s NEXT GENERATION and CONNECTING EUROPE FACILITY (CEF) programs.

With BilbOPS, the Port of Bilbao will be better positioned to meet the EU’s “Fit for 55” objectives, reducing port-related greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. Alongside other complementary initiatives, the project will contribute toward reaching the EU’s 55% emissions reduction target by 2030. BilbOPS marks a significant step forward for the Atlantic Arc, modernizing the Port of Bilbao’s infrastructure and providing a new, sustainable service.