Algeciras, Barcelona and Valencia are known for tourism, but also for being three of the 10 most emitting ports in the European Union. Spain is the second most polluting country Total of the region for port activities 14 million tons of carbon emissions annuallyAccording to the latest research from the Transport and Environment (T&E) organisation. Sustainable alternatives that have affected maritime transport in recent years include ammonia, which is still in the research phase, and electrification of docks, which is the most suitable in the medium term. The European Commission is calling for the implementation of the OPS (onshore power supply) system, technology that allows docked ships to be connected to the electrical grid to turn off their engines and reduce the carbon dioxide emitted. Although port authorities have started the installation of this system, experts fear that the system will not be available in time due to the need to build a new infrastructure that will increase the power of electrical energy and adapt it to each ship type.
estimated investment to electrify port terminals500 million euros to reach the European targetHowever, this amount varies depending on each location. “In some cases there are power outages near ports, making the investment more expensive,” explains Sara Blanco, an analyst at maritime consultancy OCP. For example, the port of Barcelona will allocate 110 million dollars to the Nexigen project for this task, 90 million for the installation of the OPS system and the rest for the distribution of the network, which includes two substations and the medium voltage network on the site. Valencia will invest an initial $11 million to electrify the MSC pier. Electrical connection to ships requires a total power of between 800 and 1,000 megawatts (Mw), while the entire state-owned port system requires around 200 Mw. Achieving this requires “the installation of a new interconnection system with a high voltage network near the dock” and “the construction of an electrical substation or the search for this infrastructure outside the port to adapt the power,” says Raúl. Villa is a doctor of marine engineering from the University of A Coruña and a captain of the Merchant Navy.
Optimistically, electrification of the docks will be possible before 2030 if it is planned well and there are no management delays. experts express doubts. “It seems very difficult for us to achieve the goal,” says Villa. “Certain permits will be needed to build the infrastructure that is missing in ports, and in cases where there is not enough energy, it will have to be sought externally through actions such as opening a pipeline through the center of the city,” adds Blanco. Many port authorities, such as Tenerife or the Balearic Islands, are investing in these ports, leading ports in the implementation of the OPS system, and others, such as Cádiz, have reached agreements with the private sector (Endesa in the case of Cadiz). infrastructure, but not all port areas have sufficient capital to seek external support.
Ships and renewable resources
The European directive, which calls for the electrification of European ports, requires only the most polluting ferries, cruise ships and container ships, those with more regular stops and They will be able to reduce the carbon emissions of each port area by up to 60%half a million to one million tonnes of CO2. But the power is not the same for each. “The power required by a cruise terminal can be three to four times greater than what a regular cruise terminal requires,” claims Puertos del Estado. The power required by a container dock is not much different from the power required by a ferry terminal; It will depend on the size of the ships and the volume of containers carried.
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Shipping companies also have responsibility for adapting ships to connect to the OPS system. “The lifespan of ships is 20 years, and we often come across old ships where the shipping company has not invested much in adapting the ship to the regulations,” says Blanco. Currently, a very small percentage of the Spanish fleet has the capacity to use this technology, according to the maritime consultancy. Cruise ships are the most prepared ships with 50-60%. ready to connect to the ports’ power grid, followed by container ships, but “ferries in Spain are not very prepared,” laments the OCP analyst; an alarming fact considering the 1,014 calls of these ships in Algeciras or ship number 807. In Barcelona in 2022.
Another element that should be emphasized in decarbonizing ports is the use of renewable energy to connect ships. “To the extent of the energy in question If it increases its renewable origin, it will also be OPSThey say from Puertos del Estado, even though it is a very complex decision that will increase the budget. There are three possibilities: Producing energy in the port is very difficult due to the lack of surface area in the region; use excess of the national energy mix or seek a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) with a producer with photovoltaic or wind farms; Always note that this agreement will be governed by the Public Contracts Act. Adding to these difficulties is the desire to use the produced renewable energy for other purposes. “Marine diesel is expected to disappear and decarbonization to be completed by 2050, which will require renewable energies to create new fuels, green hydrogen and ammonia,” explains Villa.