Port of Almería, Spain Launches €12.74 Million Substation Tender

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 10, the Port Authority of Almería, Spain launched a tender for the construction of a new substation and high-voltage transmission line, with a base budget of €12.7406 million (including VAT). The project is located in the port's fishing zone and covers the design and construction of a 66 kV high-voltage line and a 66/20 kV gas-insulated substation, as well as subsequent maintenance. The new facility has a rated capacity of 20 MVA, with an initial power supply of 8 MW reserved, and will be used to supply power to new industrial projects in the port and to build shore power systems for vessels.

This tender adopts a design-and-build contract model. The winning bidder is required to prepare the construction design documents for the new high-voltage line and substation, complete the construction of both power facilities, and prepare a port investment evaluation methodology report (MEIPOR) to supplement the project's economic feasibility assessment. The contract also includes maintenance services after the facilities are put into operation, with a maintenance period of 24 months.

The substation adopts gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) technology, with a voltage level of 66/20 kV and a rated capacity of 20 MVA. The associated 66 kV high-voltage line is responsible for connecting to the power grid, and the substation then converts the voltage to 20 kV to distribute power to relevant facilities in the port area. The plan published by the Port Authority of Almería shows that the port will initially receive 8 MW of power supply, which can later be expanded to 20 MW according to the substation's maximum supply capacity.

The new power facilities will also provide power supply conditions for shore power systems (OPS). When vessels connect to shore power during port calls, they can reduce their reliance on onboard auxiliary generators, lowering carbon dioxide emissions and noise during port stays. After more than a year of negotiations, the Port Authority has reached a contractually guaranteed arrangement with Spanish energy company Endesa for the reservation of 8 MW of power.

The project's base budget is €12.7406 million, with the European Union's European Regional Development Fund (FEDER 4) providing up to 85% co-financing. The total contract duration is 49 months, of which 25 months are for the construction and commissioning of the power facilities, followed by 24 months of maintenance services provided by the contractor. The Port Authority expects that the power infrastructure can be put into operation approximately two years after contract award, at which point the administrative concession procedures for new industrial projects in the port area will be initiated.