The Port of Bilbao, a finalist in the IAPH Sustainability Awards 2026 for its innovative energy model

Image: Bilbaoport

Port Sustainability

The Port of Bilbao has been selected as a finalist in the IAPH Sustainability Awards 2026, in the Climate and Energy category, for its Port Energy Community project. The initiative, which is competing with proposals from Hamburg and Oslo, aims to consolidate a more sustainable, efficient, and competitive model.

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El Puerto de Bilbao has been nominated as one of the three finalists in the prestigious IAPH Sustainability Awards 2026This recognition underscores its commitment to the energy transition in the logistics and port sector. The nomination, submitted in the category of Climate and EnergyIt stands out for the 'Building a Renewable Port Energy Community' project, which will compete directly with proposals from the ports of Hamburgo y Oslo.

This nomination represents a boost to the strategy of the Autoridad Portuaria de Bilbao to evolve towards a more sustainable, efficient and competitive energy model. The plan is based on key pillars such as the use of renewable energies, energy storage, and the supply of electricity to ships (known as shore power) and intelligent and integrated energy management.

An Energy Community for the decarbonization of the port

The core of the finalist project is the creation of a Port Energy Community renewable energy within the port facilities themselves. The initiative is designed to generate and store clean energy at the port facilities, for later distribution among the various operators that make up the port community. With this measure, the Puerto de Bilbao It pursues a triple objective: to optimize the use of energy resources, to progressively reduce the polluting emissions associated with its activity and, at the same time, to strengthen the resilience of its entire energy system.

This vision aligns with the port's long-term strategy, which positions the energy transition and decarbonization as cross-cutting elements to promote a more efficient, resilient infrastructure that is better integrated with its socio-economic environment.

The final verdict: a mixed voting process

The IAPH Sustainability Awards, promoted by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)They are a global benchmark that recognizes the most transformative initiatives in the sector. IAPH, of which Autoridad Portuaria de Bilbao It has been a member since 1990, working to accelerate the evolution of ports towards more sustainable and safe models.

The selection process for the winner is a mixed system that combines public opinion with that of a panel of experts. The winning project will be announced on November 4th. Londres, within the framework of World Ports Conference.

Assessment criteria in the IAPH Sustainability Awards 2026.

Source of Valuation	Weight in the Final Score
International jury of experts	70 %
Public voting (open until October 2)	30 %

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does the Port of Bilbao project nominated for the IAPH awards consist of?

The project, called 'Building a Renewable Port Energy Community', proposes the creation of an energy community within the port capable of generating, storing and distributing renewable energy among port operators to reduce emissions and optimize consumption.

Which other ports is Bilbao competing against in this final?

El Puerto de Bilbao It is competing in the Climate and Energy category against proposals submitted by the ports of Hamburgo (Germany) and Oslo (Norway).

How is the winner of the IAPH Sustainability Awards chosen?

The final decision is based on a weighted assessment: 70% of the result depends on an international jury of experts, while the remaining 30% corresponds to a public vote open on the website of the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP) until October 2nd.