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The Port Authority of Bilbao has awarded an €11.48 million contract for four solar photovoltaic plants to power its BilbOPS onshore supply system.
A consortium of four companies will engineer, construct, and operate the new PV facilities, aiming to supply renewable energy to docked vessels.
These installations, totaling over 4.25 MWp, are crucial for reducing maritime emissions and enhancing energy efficiency at the port.
The project aligns with EU climate targets and positions Bilbao as a leader in integrated renewable energy and port infrastructure development.
The Port Authority of Bilbao has awarded an €11.48 million contract to a four-company consortium for the construction and maintenance of four solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, marking a major step in its BilbOPS onshore power supply initiative. The joint venture, comprising Viuda de Sainz, S.L., Radimer Servicios Energéticos, S.L., Achiles Ingeniería Fotovoltaica, S.L., and Solar 360 de Repsol y Movistar, S.L., will undertake the engineering, construction, and operation of new PV facilities designed to supply renewable energy to vessels docked in the Port of Bilbao. The contract also includes a comprehensive two-year maintenance agreement, with an option for a one-year extension.
The PV systems will be strategically deployed across four key locations within the port’s service area. These include an 809.6 kWp installation at Zierbena Dock, 494.36 kWp at Santurtzi Breakwater, a substantial 2,424.4 kWp at the Ferry terminal pre-boarding zone (A-6 Dock, Santurtzi), and 527.12 kWp at the Cruise terminal car park (Olatua, Getxo). Collectively, these installations will feed into the port’s expanding Onshore Power Supply (OPS) infrastructure, with work anticipated to conclude within eighteen months.
These PV plants form a critical component of the BilbOPS project, a multi-phase investment aimed at establishing shore-to-ship electrical connections at Bilbao’s ro-ro, ro-pax, container, and cruise terminals. The primary objective is to significantly reduce emissions and enhance energy efficiency by allowing vessels to connect to renewable power while at berth. The first phase of BilbOPS, slated for completion in early 2026, involves installing 11 shore connection points with a combined output of 30 MW, backed by €3.9 million in funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The second phase, spanning from 2025 to 2027, commands a larger budget of €50.1 million. This stage is being financed through Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funds, the Bilbao Port Authority’s own capital, and an €80 million loan secured from the European Investment Bank (EIB). By directly integrating solar energy into its OPS system, the Port of Bilbao distinguishes itself as one of the few European maritime hubs actively developing a dual infrastructure model, combining renewable energy generation with robust power distribution capabilities.
From 2027, all power supplied to berthed vessels will originate entirely from renewable sources, either procured from a third-party distributor or generated internally by the port’s PV systems. This strategic alignment with the EU’s climate targets enhances the port’s environmental performance and addresses increasing regulatory pressure on maritime emissions. Shore power, or “cold ironing,” enables vessels to shut down their diesel engines while docked, drastically cutting NOx, SOx, and particulate emissions. The BilbOPS project also comes as shipowners face mounting challenges to comply with the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for maritime transport, which phases in shipping emissions from 2026. Bilbao’s initiative could therefore serve as a model for other Spanish and European ports striving to integrate OPS with local renewable generation, particularly as energy security and decarbonization remain paramount across the logistics and maritime sectors.