Port of Almería launches tender for new electrical infrastructure
The Port Authority of Almería in Spain has launched a tender for new electrical infrastructure designed to support future industrial development and enable the introduction of shore power services for vessels calling at the port.
The project has a tender budget of €12.74 million, including VAT, and covers the design and construction of a new high-voltage power line and electrical substation. According to the port authority, the investment could receive up to 85% co-financing through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The development follows more than a year of negotiations with electricity provider Endesa, which has contractually secured an initial allocation of 8 megawatts of power for the port. The new infrastructure is being designed with a maximum capacity of 20 MVA to accommodate future requirements, although the additional electricity supply beyond the initial allocation has not yet been secured.
Supporting shore power and industrial expansion
The tender includes the construction of a 66 kV high-voltage line and a 66/20 kV gas-insulated substation in the fishing port area of Almería. The infrastructure forms part of the port authority’s longer-term electricity planning, aimed at addressing grid capacity constraints that have limited opportunities for industrial expansion.
One of the principal objectives is to establish the electrical capacity required for future onshore power supply (OPS) systems. These systems allow compatible vessels to connect to shore-based electricity while berthed, reducing the need to operate onboard auxiliary engines and potentially lowering local emissions and noise.
The port authority expects the new infrastructure to support additional industrial activities and facilitate future port concessions. However, the current tender concerns the underlying electricity network rather than the installation of a fully operational shore power system.
The contract also includes preparation of the construction design, a port investment evaluation under the MEIPOR methodology and maintenance services following commissioning.
The total contractual period is 49 months, comprising 25 months for the infrastructure to become operational and a further 24 months of maintenance. The construction and commissioning timetable will begin following the award of the contract.
The project represents an important step in the Port of Almería’s efforts to secure additional electrical capacity for industrial operations and future vessel electrification, although its implementation remains dependent on the completion of the procurement process and subsequent construction works.
