Shore power for Trasmed ferries at the Grimaldi terminal in Barcelona

The first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) system for ferries at the Port of Barcelona is located at the Grimaldi terminal, specifically at the Sant Bertran dock. Its entry into operation marks a milestone in the transformation of both the port and the city towards a greener future. In fact, the OPS can provide electricity 24/7 from 100% renewable sources to ferries linking the Catalan capital with the Balearic Islands and equipped with an HV Shore Connection. This allows them to shut down their engines and eliminate emissions and noise while docked.

The OPS installation is part of Nexigen, an ambitious €200 million plan for the electrification of the Port of Barcelona's docks. The OPS was implemented in coordination with Grimaldi Logística España, ensuring that the various systems were designed to be compatible with the terminal's daily operations. It combines a fixed installation, which adapts the frequency and voltage of the electrical current to the specific needs of each vessel, with a mobile system that enables connection without interfering with dock operations.

In parallel, the Grimaldi Group’s Spanish shipping company Trasmed has invested in making its ships compatible with the OPS. The system was inaugurated at the end of March by the ferry Ciudad de Palma. A retrofit has also been completed for the Ciudad de Sóller and is now awaiting imminent commissioning to verify the correct operation and compatibility of the connection system with the onshore facility.

From late 2025, adaptation work is planned to enable connection to the onshore power grid for the other two ferries operated by Trasmed, the Ciudad de Granada and Ciudad de Barcelona. In other words, all Trasmed ships will soon be able to turn off their auxiliary engines while docked and operate entirely on electricity supplied by ports equipped with OPS.

For the time being, the new system allows the connection of only one ship at the Sant Bertran dock, but the installation has been designed to be easily expandable, enabling the simultaneous connection of two vessels at the two berthing points. The ability to connect both ships operating on the Barcelona-Palma de Mallorca route daily will amplify the positive impact of the new system. By shutting down their engines while moored at the Port of Barcelona, these ferries will avoid emitting an average of 6.14 metric tons of CO₂ per stopover, amounting to an annual reduction of 2,090 metric tons of CO₂.

Given the significance of this innovation at the Port of Barcelona, it is no surprise that numerous stakeholders, including representatives from various public and private entities, participated in the inauguration event on 31 March. "It’s essential to understand the complexity of major infrastructure projects in the energy transition, in terms of both scale and the involvement of multiple actors," stated the Minister of Territory of Catalonia, Silvia Paneque."The Port of Barcelona deserves credit for its strategy, effort and commitment in developing the Energy Transition Plan, with the goal of becoming a zero-carbon-emission port by 2050 and a hub for the production and distribution of green energy."

"This OPS is particularly important because it’s located in the terminal closest to the city," emphasized the President of the Port of Barcelona, José Alberto Carbonell. "When we talk about decarbonizing port activities, we do so not only with the climate emergency in mind but also, and above all, thinking about the quality of life of the people who live around us. Today marks a major step in this direction, but it won’t be the last. The OPS at Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona allows us to continue with the Nexigen plan to improve air quality in the local area and make port activities more sustainable."

This goal is now closer thanks to the commitment of the Grimaldi Group, which, as highlighted by Mario Massarotti, is currently the only company in the Port of Barcelona capable of operating in this terminal with zero emissions. "All Grimaldi Lines vessels operating between Italy and Spain have been equipped with batteries for several years and operate with zero emissions in ports," recalled the Managing Director of Grimaldi Logística España. "The same commitment is shared by Trasmed, the Group's company operating in the Balearic market, which has invested over €1.2 million to adapt its ships to the OPS system."

Ultimately, as underlined by Pedro García Navarro, Director of Operations at Puertos del Estado, the success of this initiative at the Port of Barcelona is "the result of collaboration between the public and private sectors, […] a significant step for the national port system," and "a model for ports, transport chains, and Spain's energy transition."