The Port de Barcelona and Red Eléctrica are jointly advancing the port's Energy Transition Plan, electrifying berths through OPS systems and connecting the Cerdà and Port substations, which provides 80 MW of electrical capacity to advance toward green methanol and hydrogen.
The Port de Barcelona and Red Eléctrica are working together to roll out the projects included in the port authority's Energy Transition Plan, with the aim of decarbonizing berth operations and transforming the port's energy model. The initiative seeks to turn the Port de Barcelona into a hub for the production and distribution of sustainable energy, extending the energy transition beyond port boundaries.
Among the projects, the high-voltage connection between Red Eléctrica's Cerdà substation and the Port substation stands out, which will enable, in a first phase, the expansion of the Nexigen Plan to electrify the main berths through new Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems, allowing vessels to shut down their engines while berthed. This connection is considered a strategic milestone, as it grants the port an 80 MW allocation on the transmission grid, essential electrical capacity for advancing berth electrification.
Red Eléctrica completed this summer the expansion works at the Cerdà 220 kV substation, with an investment of 37 million euros, according to details provided by Port de Barcelona and Diario del Puerto. The works also included the construction of three new lines -Cerdà-Hospitalet, Cerdà-Aeropuerto and Cerdà-Zona Franca-, all of which are now in service.
The Port substation will become operational in early 2027, enabling the commissioning of the first OPS system at a cruise terminal. The Port de Barcelona also plans to develop a green methanol plant to supply clean fuel for maritime transport, along with infrastructure for the hydrogen economy and the electrification of existing and future operations.
Redeia's chairwoman, Beatriz Corredor, noted that the collaboration with the Port de Barcelona will help lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, competitive and decarbonized port model, highlighting that the connection between the Cerdà and Port substations is key to providing the port with the electrical capacity it needs. For his part, the president of the Port de Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell, stated that decarbonizing port operations means electrifying every possible process, and that Red Eléctrica is the key partner for this transformation, together with the installation of photovoltaic panels at the ZAL and other areas within the port.