The Port Authority Bay of Algeciras (APBA), represented by its Technical Innovation Office, attended last 15th March the demonstration of the Proof of Concept (PoC) of the disruptive innovation project called “Apolo”, developed by the company Reparaciones Marítimas Españolas SA (REMESA) from Algeciras.
Specifically, the project proposes the development of a modular solution for the supply of photovoltaic solar energy in container ships and port terminals, based on a containerised energy production system that uses robotic technology and artificial vision to achieve autonomous operation. This container, which would be placed on top of the reefer containers stored in the yard or loaded on board a ship, contains robotic solar panels inside, capable of being deployed to capture solar energy and power the rest of the containers through a connection to the switchboard that feeds them, or to power the ship itself.
The idea proposes that ships and terminals change their role in the logistics chain and also become energy producers, making the cargo an active agent that makes clean energy available and reduces the consumption of emissions.
The initiative, which has been subsidised in the second call of the Puertos 4.0 Fund, created by the State Ports Public Body (OPPE) in favour of entrepreneurship in the national logistics-port sector, has the support of the APBA as a facilitating agent, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to a model of open innovation, with which it intends to take advantage of the agility and knowledge that other external agents such as start-ups, R&D&I Centres or companies in the logistics-port sector and the Port Community can contribute, in order to improve the competitiveness and quality of service of the Port.
The scope of the proof of concept, carried out at the REMESA facilities in Algeciras, consisted in the deployment and solar exposure of the container equipped with the modular system, over the course of a day, to validate the energy supply capacity of the installed equipment. Once completed, the data collected will be analysed to validate the results and draw conclusions, as part of the significant milestones included in the project’s roadmap.
Leave a Reply