The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Technological and Renewable Energy Institute (ITER), and the ITG National Technological Center have signed an agreement for the project "Decarbonization and Digitalization of Atlantic Ports (ENEPORTS)", funded by the Atlantic Area Program 2021-2027. This initiative aims to reduce the carbon footprint and adopt advanced technologies in Atlantic ports, with a particular focus on the Port of Granadilla as a testing ground for innovative solutions.
During the signing ceremony, Pedro Suárez, President of the Port Authority, emphasized the project's significance in the energy transition of port infrastructures, highlighting the urgency of reducing emissions through cutting-edge technologies. However, Suárez also pointed out the challenges posed by European regulations penalizing ships for CO₂ emissions, which reduces the competitiveness of Canarian ports compared to African ones that are exempt from these regulations. He advocated for special treatment for the Canary Islands as an outermost region.
The Councilor for Innovation of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Juan José Martínez, praised the contribution of ITER, which will provide advanced equipment and oversee the port's energy data, collaborating with ITG to simulate future scenarios and optimize resources. Santiago Rodríguez Charlón, Director of ITG’s Energy Division, explained that the ENEPORTS project aims to accelerate the decarbonization and digitalization of Atlantic ports by leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones to improve energy efficiency. The Port of Granadilla will serve as a living laboratory, where real-time data on energy consumption and production will be collected and managed through an intelligent digital platform. ITER will bring its expertise in renewable energy technologies, while ITG will lead the project by developing tools based on artificial intelligence.
ENEPORTS is the result of an international collaboration involving port authorities and technological organizations from Spain, Portugal, and Ireland. Participants include the Port Authorities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Ferrol-San Cibrao, Leixões-Douro-Viana do Castelo, and Galway, along with academic and technological partners such as ITER, the engineering school BUILDERS, the University of Galway, and ITG, which coordinates the project.
Scheduled to run until November 2026, with the possibility of extension, ENEPORTS aims to position Atlantic ports at the forefront of sustainability and digitalization, strengthening their global competitiveness and contributing to the fight against climate change.