Valencia port trials walkable solar panels
Fundación Valenciaport has launched an innovative pilot project at the port of Valencia as part of the European Renewport initiative aimed at fostering energy transition and renewable energy in Mediterranean ports. The project involves installing 26 walkable solar panels on the main pathway leading to the port's parking area. Covering approximately 30 sqm with a combined capacity of 5.2 kWp, each panel measures 1 m by 1 m and is designed to be safe for pedestrians, complying with anti-slip regulations and built to withstand continuous foot traffic.
The energy generated will be supplied to nearby port authority buildings via a 10 kW Huawei inverter, primarily for lighting and air conditioning. This trial builds on an earlier prototype from 2021, with higher power output and a larger surface area. The results will be analysed to assess energy production, maintenance needs and development potential, including the possibility of integrating the technology into the port's existing power grid. The Renewport project, co-funded by the European Commission, aims to make Mediterranean ports more sustainable by harnessing untapped renewable energy sources.