The General Director of Natural Environment, Miguel Ángel Morcuende, attended the fifth Maritime Heritage and Culture Conference, organised by the Royal Cosmological Society and the Canary Foundation Correíllo La Palma, in collaboration with the Green Offices of the Canary Islands. Morcuende emphasised the opportunities presented by harnessing marine resources to advance towards a more diversified and sustainable energy model tailored to the unique characteristics of the Canary Islands.
The event, part of the 'Month of the Sea' initiative, runs from 4 to 26 November and focuses on marine renewable energies. Morcuende participated in a session dedicated to the potential of marine energy resources, particularly wave and current energy. The conference, titled 'Marine Energy Resources: Waves and Currents', featured researcher Marcos Lafoz Pastor from the Centre for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT).
The collaboration with the Green Offices of the Canary Islands enabled Lafoz to present advancements in technologies that convert wave and current energy into electricity, as well as existing projects and the main challenges for their development. Morcuende highlighted the importance of exploring new renewable sources and diversifying energy generation options, especially in a fragmented territory like the Canary Islands, with its unique island electrical systems.
“Canarias has conditions that make the study and utilisation of marine energy resources particularly interesting. We must continue to explore all the possibilities offered by renewable energies, promoting knowledge, research, and innovation to advance towards a cleaner, safer, and more diversified energy system,” Morcuende stated.
He also praised the efforts of the organising entities, acknowledging the Royal Cosmological Society and the Canary Foundation Correíllo La Palma for their commitment to maintaining spaces for dialogue and dissemination around maritime heritage and the opportunities presented by the ocean.
Ignacio Jesús Pasto Teso, President of the Royal Cosmological Society of La Palma, expressed gratitude for the invaluable collaboration of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy and the Green Offices of the Canary Islands, which facilitated the participation of Lafoz. He noted that the multidisciplinary conference aims to highlight the sea's role as a common heritage and a space for memory, innovation, cultural exchange, and sustainable development, extending the experience to the educational realm for the first time.
Juan Pedro Morales Chacón, President of the Canary Foundation Correíllo La Palma, also commended the speaker and the Ministry's involvement in the Month of the Sea, stating that the use of clean and renewable energy is a foundational pillar of the Correíllo La Palma restoration project. Plans are underway to ensure that this historic vessel, while retaining its triple-expansion steam engine for demonstration purposes, will navigate using electric propulsion powered by biofuels, aligning with International Maritime Organization directives and transforming the Correíllo La Palma into a unique example of maritime cultural heritage in line with energy transition without losing its essence and historical values.
The incorporation of new renewable sources presents significant challenges for the energy transition. While technologies such as wind and solar photovoltaic have reached a substantial level of maturity, other resources can contribute to diversifying electricity generation, particularly in insular territories like the Canary Islands. Harnessing wave and current energy represents a promising line of research for the Archipelago's future energy landscape.
The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Energy is working to promote an energy model based on renewable sources, resource diversification, innovation, and emission reduction, considering the specific characteristics of each island. Additionally, the collaboration with the Green Offices of the Canary Islands has extended to the educational sector. Lafoz's presence in La Palma has facilitated various outreach talks in local schools, aiming to engage students with science, research, and new technologies.
Among the proposed talks were 'How will we move tomorrow? Sustainable transport: from electric vehicles to ultralight trains', focusing on new mobility alternatives and associated transport technologies, and 'Untangling the Grid: learning what it is and how electricity is managed in Spain', which addressed the functioning of the electrical system, energy storage, and the peculiarities of island networks. These activities aimed to spark young people's interest in science and technology, encourage scientific vocations, and facilitate direct contact with professionals in the research field.
