The PORT-EOLMAR program now has a definitive map of awardees and leaves a first indication of which Spanish ports are beginning to position themselves for the future value chain of offshore wind.
The final resolution of the IDAE grants 212 million euros to five port infrastructure projects aimed at preparing docks, esplanades, access points and logistics areas for the deployment of offshore wind and other marine renewables in Spain .
The key figure is not just the public funding. According to the resolution, the selected projects represent a total of €255.8 million in eligible costs and are linked to €470.7 million in associated industrial investment .
The largest allocation corresponds to the Association of Port Authorities of Galicia , made up of A Coruña and Ferrol , which will receive 100 million euros for the Golfo Ártabro-Offshore Wind project.
The internal distribution includes 97.4 million for A Coruña and 2.5 million for Ferrol , making the Galician axis the main beneficiary of this first call.
Next is the Port Authority of the Valencian Community , through the Port of Castellón , with 50.8 million euros for the project to expand the coastal dock of the south basin.
In third place is the Canary Islands Port Authority , with 30 million euros for the expansion of the Juan Sebastián El Cano dock in the Port of Las Palmas.
The Port Authority of Catalonia will receive 24 million euros for Phase II of the expansion of the Baleares dock in Tarragona.
The list is completed by the Port Authority of the Principality of Asturias , which obtains 7.1 million euros for the comprehensive conditioning of the Romualdo Alvargonzález Figaredo dock and the adaptation of high capacity logistics esplanades in Gijón.
What does PORT-EOLMAR seek to finance?
The call is aimed at adapting basic port infrastructure in ports of general interest so that they can accommodate manufacturing, assembly, storage and shipping activities of offshore wind components , especially compatible with floating technology.
Continue reading
The minimum requirements include a berthing line of at least 300 meters , a minimum draft of 15 meters and logistics areas of 15 hectares , except in the Canary Islands, where the minimum required is 10 hectares.
The distribution by marine regions
The resolution distributes the funds among three large areas.
The Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coasts Subregion concentrates the largest allocation, with 107.2 million euros for two projects and an associated industrial investment of 322.9 million euros .
The Mediterranean Sea Region receives 74.8 million euros for two projects, linked to 116.8 million euros of associated industrial investment .
For its part, the Atlantic Macaronesian Subregion of the Canary Islands obtains 30 million euros for a project, with 31 million euros of associated industrial investment .
The program comes at a time when Spain is still preparing for the commercial leap of offshore wind power, especially floating wind power.
Although the country has a consolidated onshore wind industry, shipyards, engineering, ports and manufacturers with export capabilities, offshore deployment requires a specific port infrastructure that still needs to be adapted to the dimensions and needs of this new value chain.
PORT-EOLMAR seeks to address precisely that first bottleneck: preparing the ports before the auctions and commercial projects arrive.
Furthermore, the call requires that public projects be backed by private investment commitments in industrial projects equal to or greater than the aid requested, which seeks to prevent port works from being isolated from a real value chain.
The aid is financed with NextGenerationEU funds within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and is granted as non-refundable subsidies, under a competitive bidding system.
The actions will have a maximum execution period of 48 months from the concession resolution.