The Bilbao Port Authority has awarded a contract valued at €11,485,691 for the engineering project for the solar photovoltaic (PV) plants to be included in the OPS system of the Port of Bilbao, as well as for the corresponding comprehensive operation and maintenance service for the PV installations once the works have been completed.
The deadline for the works to be competed is 18 months. The organisation that has been awarded the contract is a joint venture consisting of four different companies: Viuda de Sainz, Radimer Servicios Energéticos, Achiles Ingeniería Fotovoltaica and Solar 360 de Repsol y Movistar. Essentially, the contract covers setting up four solar PV plants within the port service area, specifically in Zierbena Dock, with a maximum potential of 809.6 kWp; on the Santurtzi breakwater, with a maximum potential of 494.36 kWp; in the pre-boarding area of the ferry terminal at the A-6 Dock in Santurtzi, with a maximum potential of 2,424.4 kWp; and in the car park at the Olatua cruise terminal in Getxo, with a maximum potential of 527.12 kWp. The contract also includes the provision of a comprehensive operations and maintenance service for a period of two years, once the initial construction works have been completed. This maintenance contract may roll over for one year at most.
The contract is part of the BilbOPS project, scheduled in its initial stage to enable vessels to connect to the onshore power supply at the ro-ro, ro-pax, container and cruise terminals, which is currently being rolled out by the Port Authority. The project includes provision for renewable energy production in the Port of Bilbao to power the OPS system, including the array of PV plants. From 2027 onwards, the power to be supplied to vessels at berth will be of renewable origin, supplied by the distribution company contracted by the Port or by the Port’s own power production system.
Image: Bilbao Port’s shore power system is to be powered by renewable energy (source: Bilbao Port Authority)
