An intelligent digital platform is set to be designed, tested in the laboratory, and implemented at the Port of Granadilla to manage new renewable energy sources. It aims to produce 200 gigawatts per hour, powering 21,700 homes, utilizing offshore wind and wave energy. The project is part of the European Eneports initiative, including the ports of Ferrol and Leixões (Porto), with an investment of 2.8 million euros. This project involves the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Technological and Renewable Energy Institute (ITER) on the Island.
The launch of the Eneports initiative aims to attract new renewable energy entities to the vicinity of the Port of Granadilla, fostering sustainable and innovative industrial growth for the regions. This project is expected to showcase how digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can transform ports into platforms for green energy generation at competitive prices, serving as innovation laboratories for renewable energy.
Pilot Projects. The Eneports initiative, introduced at the Port of Ferrol, will facilitate the creation of three pilot projects within the port infrastructures involved. Over the course of three years, three intelligent digital platforms will be developed, tested in the laboratory, and implemented to manage new sources of renewable energy and consumption at the three ports.
As a result, it is projected that more than 72,250 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) will be prevented annually – equivalent to the yearly emissions of 16,800 people. This will contribute to improving air quality in urban areas of southern Tenerife, Ferrol, and Porto.
Development at Each Port. The Port Authority has detailed that at the Port of Granadilla, offshore wind and wave resources will be primarily utilized to generate over 200 gigawatts per hour (GWh) annually, capable of powering over 21,700 Tenerife homes. In Ferrol, the focus will be on onshore wind and photovoltaic energy installations with the capacity to produce more than 43 GWh/year – sufficient to power over 4,300 homes in Galicia. Furthermore, the Portuguese Port of Leixões will incorporate these technologies along with a wave energy prototype, aiming to generate more than 20 gigawatts per hour annually, enough to power over 6,100 Portuguese homes.
The collective installation at the three ports until 2030 will exceed 70 megawatts.
Adoption of New Technologies. The Eneports initiative in Europe also promotes innovation in new renewable technologies. It includes studying the feasibility of utilizing devices that combine the generation of photovoltaic and hydraulic energy with tension-generated mooring ropes. Additionally, the initiative will explore improving control through machine learning techniques. These measures aim to enable the three ports to achieve carbon neutrality by around 2035.
Research. The Port authorities of Tenerife, Ferrol, and Leixões, along with participating institutions, have initiated the study of administrative and technological requirements for creating these new energy ecosystems within their areas, as well as evaluating their economic, social, environmental, and technological impacts.
Eneports, with a budget exceeding 2.8 million euros, is partially financed by the Interreg Atlantic Area call. The initiative involves the Technological Institute of Galicia (ITG), the Institute of Technology and Renewable Energy of Tenerife (ITER), the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Ferrol, Leixões (Portugal), and Galway (Ireland); as well as the University of Galway and Builders École d’Ingénieurs, as highlighted by the Port Authority.
