The “Ports of the Future, Electrification and Innovation in Action” conference is an open innovation initiative, coordinated by Espaitec, within the multi-sector program Innotransfer, promoted by the Network of Valencian Science Parks (REPCV), with the support of the Valencian Agency for Innovation (AVI)
This Thursday the day was held Innotransfer «Ports of the Future, Electrification and Innovation in Action», where the Port Authorities of Castelló, València and Alicante; companies; technological institutes and university have reflected on the emerging technologies, challenges and innovative solutions that are shaping the port industry. From energy management systems, charging infrastructure for electric boats or solutions for the use of digital twins and artificial intelligence to control the dispersion of pollutants. These are business challenges that are identified by Specialized Strategic Innovation Committees (CEIE) of the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI).
The general secretary of the Valencian Innovation Agency, Olivia Star, the director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Universitat Jaume I, Marisa Flor, together with the director of Espaitec, Juan Antonio Bertolin, have inaugurated the day. Estrella has highlighted "the added value of initiatives such as Innotransfer and the role of technology parks as drivers of the economy of the Valencian Community. Specifically, this conference will identify technologies that can be applied to improve the energy efficiency of Valencian seaports, which currently catalyze more than 40% of Spain's foreign trade.
For his part, Flor has pointed out that "Innotransfer is the ideal framework for show emerging technologies developed by research groups and companies", detect opportunities and needs, connect interests and promote these solutions focused on ports and based on knowledge and technology."
The session began with the presentation on the electrification of docks in the Port of Castellón, headed by the head of the Projects and Works Department at the Port Authority of Castellón, Juan Perez, «one of our objectives is to improve energy efficiency through renewable sources. To this end, we have implemented OPS technology to connect docked ships to a general electrical network and we are working on the connectivity of our logistics platform with the outside world through the connection between docks."
Next, the director of the Energy Transition Area at the Port Authority of Valencia spoke, Frederick Torres, with his exposition about the decarbonization in the Port of Valencia. «When we develop strategic plans, decarbonization is a vital element due to the importance of energy efficiency. Currently we have managed to increase merchandise and reduce the carbon footprint, since we have identified the main generators of greenhouse gases. However, we have created the Zero Emissions Project, in order to be energy self-sufficient in 2030."
Next, the head of the Maintenance and Navigation Aids Division at the Alicante Port Authority, Thomas of the Snows, has made his presentation on the electrical supply to ships at docks 13, 15 and 17 from the Port of Alicante. "In the Port of Alicante we have various dock electrification initiatives underway, such as the TMS Concessionaire, which has a work project to implement connection facilities for the supply of electrical energy from land."
The event has advanced with the round table «Electrification as an Engine of Change», Involving Ana Llorens, Director of Operations at PortSur Castelló; Jose Antonio Perez, electrical engineer at Insteimed; next to Javier Barahona, CEO of Abervian and president of the Valencian Electric Vehicle Association (AVVE). Thus, the speakers have concluded that uncertainty in technologies and time are two elements that can affect when implementing electrification.
The day continued with the round table «Connecting Environmental Innovation and Port Industry», in which they have intervened Javier ClimentCEO Hydrens; Sergio Chiva, researcher of Multiphase Fluids Group (GFM-UJI); next to Francisco Toledo, Director of the Smart Ports Chair (PortCastelló-UJI). In this sense, the participants have reflected on the role that innovation plays in the creation of current and future ports.
Once the round tables are over, Laura Menendez, Manager Innotransfer at Espaitec, has given a practical presentation about the «Innotransfer Challenge Platform», in which any company or entity with a presence in the Valencian Community can propose a technological and innovative challenge to be solved by the research staff of the Valencian public universities and the network of REDIT Technological Institutes.
To close the day, he intervened Juan Antonio Bertolin, director of Espaitec, who has defined Innotransfer as "a connector through which we try to facilitate and exchange knowledge and serve as a space for attendees to identify possible connections."
INNOTRANSFER
Innotransfer is a multi-sector initiative of open innovation and collective management that aims to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology, developed by the scientific and technological parks of the Valencian Community, to the business ecosystem of our territory in key economic sectors such as Sustainable Habitat; Agri-food; Sustainable Mobility and Automotive; Enabling Technologies; Health; Infrastructures; and Smart Tourism.
The main business associations, the Valencian public universities and the network of REDIT Technological Institutes participate in the Innotransfer forum, which is coordinated by the Network of Valencian Science Parks (REPCV) and financed by the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI). This initiative aims to promote dialogue between researchers and companies in the Valencian Community through the catalytic action of the intermediate structures of the public-private research ecosystem and the Valencian business ecosystem.
