The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) and Valencia Terminal Europa (VTE), a Grimaldi Group subsidiary, have signed an agreement governing the construction, operation, and maintenance of a photovoltaic infrastructure.
The port noted that it has already commenced construction on the roof of the vehicle silo located in the VTE concession in the East Dock.
Mar Chao, President of Valenciaport, and Antonio Crespo, Director of Valencia Terminal Europa, reportedly conducted a working discussion to go over the specifics of the agreement.
After the meeting, Crespo pointed out that: “This project is part of a joint strategy between the PAV and Grimaldi Group to advance in the decarbonisation process and achieve the Zero Emissions Objective in the Valencian docks.”
The business group is working on several joint initiatives with the Port Authority of Valencia and the Valenciaport Foundation, such as hydrogen projects and the installation of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) in Transmed terminals to connect ships to the electricity grid while in port.
For her part, Chao emphasized that: “With the generation of approximately 11 per cent of the electricity required by the port for its operation, the setting up of this infrastructure will consolidate the commitment to the climate neutrality of the activity of the site”.
READ: Port of Valencia set to be powered by solar energy
The solar facility is the responsibility of a joint venture formed by Lantania S.A.U and Tecmo Instalaciones, and the PAV has invested more than €16 million ($17.4 million).
The initiative is funded by the European Union’s Next Generation Funds and the Spanish Government’s Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan.
The solar facility is placed on the top of the Grimaldi Group’s port and covers 27,700 square metres.
The infrastructure will consist of 10,773 photovoltaic modules mounted on a steel frame tilted at four degrees and facing south. Four transformers will be installed in two transformation centres with two units of 1,250 kilovoltamperes (kVA) each and another two of 1,600 kVA.
READ: Port of Valencia commences docks electrification
This installation will generate around 9,000 megawatt hour (MWh)/year, which is approximately 11 per cent of the Port of Valencia’s electricity consumption.
This is the second photovoltaic installation awarded by the PAV in the Valencian precinct. The first of these was the plant – which is already being tested – at the Príncipe Felipe dock by the Pavasal-Pavener joint venture.
This solar park will generate 2,353 MWh/year which is equivalent to 3 per cent of the electrical energy. With these two plants, the Port of Valencia will obtain 14 per cent of its electricity consumption.
Port of Valencia are also reportedly studying new locations for a third photovoltaic plant which would be larger than the two already allocated. PAV noted that the aim is to increase the use of these clean energies with a view to 2030: zero emissions.
In December 2023, PAV approved in an Extraordinary Board of Directors meeting the specifications that comprise the legal and economic criteria for the tender of the new terminal.
