Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved €55.4 million ($58.6 million) in funding to electrify the Port of Bilbao, as part of its bid to be carbon neutral by 2050.
In a November 28 news release, the port detailed how the new funds will go toward an electricity substation connected by distribution lines, including a high-voltage subsea cable. That infrastructure will make it so that vessels docked at the port will be able to shut their engines off and connect directly to the onshore power grid. Currently, ships at the Port of Bilbao leave their auxiliary engines on while they’re berthed, which can burn fuel and lead to increased carbon emissions while vessels are idling.
The network will be powered by renewable sources, starting with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, with plans to eventually add wind energy. On December 3, the port announced that it would be getting an additional €13 million from Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to build the PV solar plant needed to supply electricity to the onshore power system.
