Marinas are facing an extraordinary opportunity to adapt their energy management models towards greater efficiency and a greater role for renewable energies, in line with the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 legislative package.

Of all the available technologies, photovoltaics is growing in importance and has the potential to increase development in the sector.

Other technologies such as green hydrogen, geothermal and tidal have more distant implementation horizons, but are of no less interest.

The electrification of recreational craft, in its transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors, represents an increase in the energy needs of port facilities, making it all the more important to improve efficiency within these facilities and incorporate renewable sources. This transition will depend very much on a number of factors, making it hard to clearly predict which model or system is most likely to be more generally adopted in the interests of attaining climate neutrality. ¹

Port facilities that are close to or linked to commercial ports will have greater opportunities for incorporating renewable energies from a supply source, and in fact important projects are already being developed along these lines, such as the one known as A Coruña Green Port.

Another initiative of interest is the Wave Energy Converter in which the Port of Valencia is involved, taking advantage, as its name suggests, of wave energy, and capable of covering the lighting needs of Valencia Marina, amongst other services; a marina with more than 800 berths for recreational vessels. 

Eco Wave Power offers a patented, onshore wave energy technology that cost-effectively converts ocean and sea waves into clean electricity, leveraging existing structures with minimal environmental impact.

Ideas & recommendations:

• Measure your carbon footprint to find out how energy is used in daily operations (including suppliers and visitors).
• Develop good energy-saving practices (buying local products, promoting alternative transport options, etc.).
• Consult with local energy suppliers to contract green energy.
• Prepare for the transition to electric boats and port vehicles.
• Involve all stakeholders in the marina in energy saving practices.

Resources:

Roadmap for the Decarbonisation of the European Recreational Marine Craft Sector (The Carbon Trust, 2021)

1 Climate neutrality refers to the idea that net greenhouse gas emissions are balanced and equal to (or less than) those removed through the planet's natural absorption.