Port Authority Continues Decarbonization of the Balearic Ports

The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has awarded the construction of an onshore power connection point for ships at the port of Alcudia.

This is the second system known as OPS (or cold ironing) that the APB is installing in the general interest ports it manages. The technology, which is already functioning regularly at the port of Palma, allows for the reduction of noise and air pollution while ships are docked in port.

The APB has an investment plan of around one hundred million euros until 2030, aimed at electrifying the docks of the five general interest ports for energy supply to ferries and cruise ships. In addition to the two mentioned at the ports of Palma and Alcudia, two more points will soon be awarded at the port of Eivissa and another at the port of Maó.

Simultaneously, planning is underway for the installation of four more points at both the port of Palma and the port of Eivissa, one more at each of the ports of Maó and Alcudia, and another at the port of la Savina for regular traffic between Eivissa and Formentera. The European Union is financing 40% of the cost of these investments through NextGeneration funds.

The president of the APB, Javier Sanz, emphasizes the "decisive push" that the port authority is making in the electrification of the docks, which has a direct effect on the decarbonization process of port operations and, therefore, on "environmental sustainability," as well as on "the well-being of the port's neighbors, who will notice a reduction in noise during the ships' calls at the port."

This September, the UTE Infraestructura Elect was awarded the contract for the installation of an onshore power connection point at the Poniente docks of the port of Alcudia for a budget of 2.6 million euros and an execution period of nine months. The installation will be able to supply power to ferries at medium voltage (1,600 kW) and will be prepared to complete it with another low-voltage connection (800 kW), which will also allow fast ferries to connect.