In line with its sustainability and decarbonization strategy, the Port Authority of Bilbao has chaired a working group of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF) of the European Commission, dedicated to the analysis of the provisions related to shore power supply to vessels in port (OPS) of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation. The resulting report has been published by the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission, which has highly valued the work carried out by the participants and the coordination of the group.
With this work, the Port Authority of Bilbao strengthens its participation in European maritime decarbonization initiatives and contributes to the analysis of the regulatory framework on port electrification.
The document prepared by the working group chaired by the APB addressed the main challenges in the application of the OPS provisions of FuelEU Maritime and gathered the diverse viewpoints of different agents in the maritime and port sector, all within the framework of the European regulation.
The report highlights that, although the FuelEU Maritime Regulation establishes a framework for reducing emissions from ships during their stay in port, its application poses certain operational, technical, and regulatory challenges. The document identifies aspects that may require specific clarifications or adjustments, gathering the different perspectives of the participants and maintaining the objective of promoting a coherent and effective application of the regulations in the European Union.
Throughout the different chapters of this report, the need to maintain an adequate balance between addressing real operational or technical difficulties and preserving the deployment and effective use of OPS is highlighted. To this end, different situations that may arise in the application of OPS are analyzed, such as short stays in ports, equipment breakdowns, technical incompatibilities, unforeseen circumstances, or price variations, among others.
The working group has also indicated the importance of establishing a credible, predictable, and stable framework for the use of OPS, which will support the effective use of the system deployed under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and instill confidence in the significant investments being made by ports, terminal operators, electricity providers, shipping companies, and other stakeholders.
Electrification in the Port of Bilbao
The topics developed in this report are consistent with the efforts to improve sustainability and decarbonization being carried out by the Port Authority in its facilities, joining the compliance with the FuelEU Maritime Regulation.
It is currently advancing in the deployment of its OPS system, which will allow vessels to connect to the onshore electricity grid during their stay in port, eliminating the use of auxiliary engines and reducing emissions, noise, and vibrations. The Port Authority is also working on the progressive integration of renewable energies into its electricity supply model, with the aim of moving towards a more sustainable and competitive port energy system.
The commissioning of all the facilities for this service is planned for the end of 2027, it is financed by the Port Authority itself and has funding from the European Commission through the CEF (Connecting Europe Facility) program, the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan – NextGenerationEU, and the EIB (European Investment Bank).
