PowerCon ramps up shore power provision

Barcelona’s €12.2 million project will bring vessel charging capability to Terminal H of Adossat Wharf, making it a major milestone in the port’s broader port electrification strategy.

“Once the first phase of the Nexigen Plan has been completed, the construction of the first OPS for cruise ships represents an important qualitative leap in the electrification of the wharves of the Port of Barcelona,” said José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona.

“This is the key element in the decarbonisation of port activity, which is now entering its decisive phase.”

Streamlined power

The system, designed for compatibility with existing operations, is set to streamline onshore power access for cruise vessels, reducing emissions and supporting sustainability goals.

PowerCon’s contract includes full turnkey delivery – design, build and commissioning, as well as two years of maintenance.

It will also handle all related civil engineering and underground cabling, with capacity reserved for up to five more OPS systems at Adossat Wharf.

The new OPS will be the first connected to Barcelona’s medium-voltage network, which will power all main cruise terminals by 2027.

In parallel, PowerCon is expanding its onshore power reach, delivering a new shore power system for the Port of Narvik’s newly built cruise quay in Norway, in collaboration with Plug | Shore Power & Maritime Charging.

Narvik has recently built a new cruise quay and the new OPS sytem will allow ships to connect to the power grid when they are docked.