Clean power for Barcelona cruise ships

The €12.2 million project at the MSC Terminal, awarded to Danish engineering firm PowerCon, will allow cruise vessels to plug into onshore power while docked, cutting emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy across the port.

“The MSC terminal OPS is scheduled to come on stream in 2027, along with the substation that we will use to deliver 100% renewable electricity to all terminals,” said Ana Arévalo, head of the Port of Barcelona’s shorepower unit.

“It will be a pivotal year for electrification of the Port of Barcelona wharves.”

Sustainability focus

The MSC terminal, which opened earlier this year, was built with sustainability in mind and was designed and built to be pre-equipped for OPS installation.

PowerCon will handle all civil works and cabling necessary to connect the terminal to the new power distribution centre.

This development is part of Barcelona’s wider Nexigen Plan, which aims to transform the port’s energy infrastructure.

With nearly €200 million in investment, the plan includes operational OPS at the BEST and Grimaldi terminals, already supplying power to container ships and ferries in pilot phases.

Barcelona’s port electrification efforts aim to position the city as a leader in clean cruise tourism and sustainable maritime transport in the Mediterranean.