On 17 September 2024, MSC Mette, a 24,116 TEU container vessel operated by MSC, became the first ship in Southern Europe to connect to the recently installed Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system at Hutchison Ports BEST container terminal in the Port of Barcelona. The vessel call marked the first emission-free port call by a container ship at the port. The port stated that, despite being the first operational run, the connection and power supply process was successful and proceeded smoothly.

The newly inaugurated OPS system allows vessels to connect to a 100% renewable electricity supply, and has the capacity to deliver up to 8MW of power. Manufactured by Denmark’s PowerCon, the system was installed as part of terminal expansion works, which included laying over 3,000 meters of cable and installing a 3,000-volt medium-voltage network. With three custom-designed connection points, it supports simultaneous connections for two vessels. The system includes a Cable Management System (CMS), designed to deliver the connection directly to the dock where the ship is moored. This custom-built feature ensures the electricity supply can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of each ship and terminal, without disrupting the loading and unloading operations. In the case of the MSC Mette, the OPS supplied a total of 103,200 kWh.

The OPS is the first deployment under the port’s € 200 million Nexigen plan, aimed at electrifying the port’s docks and providing ships with renewable electrical energy during their time in port. Nexigen’s primary objective is to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and to establish the port as carbon-neutral by 2050.

As part of Nexigen, additional installations are planned over the next five years, including new electrical substations and an underwater pipeline to support the electrification of cruise terminals. During the pilot phase of the OPS, approximately 92 connections are expected to be made within the first two years of operation. This initiative is projected to eliminate 2,500 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to the emissions from approximately 135,000 cars driving 30 kilometres each day over a year.

On 17 September 2024, MSC Mette, a 24,116 TEU container vessel operated by MSC, became the first ship in Southern Europe to connect to the recently installed Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system at Hutchison Ports BEST container terminal in the Port of Barcelona. The vessel call marked the first emission-free port call by a container ship at the port. The port stated that, despite being the first operational run, the connection and power supply process was successful and proceeded smoothly.

The newly inaugurated OPS system allows vessels to connect to a 100% renewable electricity supply, and has the capacity to deliver up to 8MW of power. Manufactured by Denmark’s PowerCon, the system was installed as part of terminal expansion works, which included laying over 3,000 meters of cable and installing a 3,000-volt medium-voltage network. With three custom-designed connection points, it supports simultaneous connections for two vessels. The system includes a Cable Management System (CMS), designed to deliver the connection directly to the dock where the ship is moored. This custom-built feature ensures the electricity supply can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of each ship and terminal, without disrupting the loading and unloading operations. In the case of the MSC Mette, the OPS supplied a total of 103,200 kWh.

The OPS is the first deployment under the port’s € 200 million Nexigen plan, aimed at electrifying the port’s docks and providing ships with renewable electrical energy during their time in port. Nexigen’s primary objective is to achieve a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and to establish the port as carbon-neutral by 2050.

As part of Nexigen, additional installations are planned over the next five years, including new electrical substations and an underwater pipeline to support the electrification of cruise terminals. During the pilot phase of the OPS, approximately 92 connections are expected to be made within the first two years of operation. This initiative is projected to eliminate 2,500 tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to the emissions from approximately 135,000 cars driving 30 kilometres each day over a year.