Spanish port joins climate action collaborative

This initiative with the International Association of Ports and Terminals (IAPH) brings together 12 other global ports in a united front to tackle climate change.

“It is an honour to be part of this initiative because it highlights the work our port community has been carrying out and the environmental actions we are undertaking to contribute to improving the quality of life of our surroundings and the agents involved in port activity,” said Aurelio Martinez, President of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV).

Environmental commitment

The members of the programme are chosen from a group of ports with a proven commitment to the environment which are able to meet the requirements of the World Ports Climate Action Program.

PAV representatives are included in four of the five WPCAP working groups: Efficiency, Policy and Governance, Energy for Vessels and Decarbonised Terminals.

The port authority is more than playing its part to meet the requirements of the WPCAP. It is undertaking initiatives such as the Green Hydrogen with H2Ports roadmap, a pilot project in mobility and maritime transport which could make Valenciaport the first port in Europe to incorporate hydrogen energy in its terminals by 2021.

In addition, the electrification project at PAV’s new North Terminal is designed to minimise CO2 emissions and energy consumption with 98% of the machinery being converted to electric and 100% of energy coming from renewable sources.

The new passenger terminal project by Balèaria meanwhile will have 100% of the energy coming from renewable sources, with the recycling of waste recovered from the ships and the maritime station to produce biofuels, be equipped with onshore power for ships and photovoltaic solar panels on many buildings.

Valenciaport’s business plan includes €3.2 million earmarked for energy efficiency programmes and consumption control systems, while €15 million will go to wind power projects and €2.8 million to photovoltaic systems.

Other members of the WPCAP are Barcelona, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Le Havre, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Rotterdam, Vancouver and Yokohama.