Bilbao, Spain – August 2025
The Port Authority of Bilbao has awarded a €11.48 million contract to a consortium—Viuda de Sainz, Radimer Servicios Energéticos, Achiles Ingeniería Fotovoltaica, and Solar 360 (a Repsol–Movistar joint venture)—for the design, construction, and two-year maintenance of four solar photovoltaic (PV) plants to support its onshore power supply (OPS) initiative known as BilbOPS.
The PV installations will be located at the following key port locations:
- Zierbena Dock – 809.6 kWp
- Santurtzi Breakwater – 494.4 kWp
- Ferry Terminal (A‑6 Dock, Santurtzi) – 2,424.4 kWp
- Cruise Terminal Car Park (Olatua, Getxo) – 527.1 kWp
Construction is expected to take 18 months, with an initial maintenance period of two years and an optional one-year extension. The goal is to power ships at berth using clean, renewable energy rather than traditional auxiliary diesel engines.
The solar PV energy generated will feed directly into the port’s OPS network, enabling vessels—including ro-ro, container, ro-pax, and cruise ships—to plug into shore power during port stays. This will reduce emissions from ships at berth, aligning with European Union climate targets under the “Fit for 55” package.
The broader BilbOPS system will feature 11 connection points with a total capacity of up to 30 MW, with the first phase of implementation expected to be completed by early 2026. The second phase, scheduled through 2027, will expand the OPS infrastructure and receive financial backing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility. Total investment in the full BilbOPS program is estimated at over €80 million.
By 2027, the port expects that 100% of the power supplied to docked ships will come from renewable sources—either from the new PV plants or certified green electricity from external providers.
This initiative places Bilbao among a growing group of European ports aggressively investing in decarbonization infrastructure to meet international climate targets and improve local air quality.
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