en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) has completed its first low-voltage shore power supply operation for ships at the Port of Alcudia in Spain, with the vessel connected being the Son Menorca, operated by Menorca Lines.
According to information published on APB's official website, this connection method, known as cold ironing or Onshore Power Supply (OPS), allows ships to obtain electricity from the shore while berthed, thereby reducing fuel consumption, pollutant emissions, and ambient noise in the port area.
According to the authority's estimates, on the Alcudia–Ciutadella route, this measure is expected to reduce approximately 236 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to saving about 88,000 litres of fuel per year.
Regarding subsequent arrangements, APB revealed that the next step will arrive in September, when a new medium-voltage connection will be put into operation. This infrastructure, with an investment of €2.8 million, will provide shore power to vessels with greater energy demands, thereby significantly expanding the system's capacity.
The authority stated that port electrification is one of the main action lines of the Balearic Islands Port Authority's environmental strategy. Since 2021, APB has been continuously advancing the installation of OPS infrastructure at its ports, enabling ships to shut down their engines and connect to the shore grid while berthed.
