A programme of specialist papers that delves into challenges and solutions

The core of the day was a cycle of specialized papers that explored the technical, legal and operational challenges of energy communities, with emphasis on offshore wind and port decarbonization.

The technical session was opened with the intervention of Jesús Casas, director of the Port Authority of Ferrol-San Cibrao, who presented an exhaustive analysis of the role of the port in global decarbonization under the title «The Port: strategic node for decarbonisation and energy communities».

Casas detailed progress such as the implementation of onshore connection services for ships, which reduce emissions by 20-30% during operations, and the first unloading of XXL monopiles in May 2025, a milestone that positions Ferrol as a key intermediate port in the logistics of massive wind components.

His presentation included data on the port’s own energy consumption, which already exceeds 15 per cent of requirements through solar panels and biomass, with projections to reach 50 per cent by 2030. He also stressed the importance of infrastructures such as cold ironing, which allows ships to turn off their auxiliary engines and connect to the shore power grid, an essential step towards meeting European zero emissions standards in ports by 2050.

Subsequently, Santiago Rodríguez, director of the Energy Division of the Technological Institute of Galicia (ITG), presented on «Design and management of an energy community».

The session focused on using digital tools to optimize local networks, such as real-time monitoring platforms that integrate wind production with battery storage. Cited case studies in European ports where port-city interconnection could generate energy savings of 25% for adjacent industries, promoting prosumer (producer-consumer) models accessible to SMEs. He also addressed the use of AI to predict energy demands, reducing consumption peaks and maximizing efficiency in industrial environments such as Ferrol, where the volatility of the Atlantic wind requires advanced predictive systems.

The sessions continued with the legal block in which Cristóbal Dobarro, president of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Ferrolterra, Eume and Ortegal (COFER), spoke on the «Legal aspects of the energy community».

Dobarro explored the Spanish and European regulatory framework, including the RED III Directive, and analysed the existence of barriers such as the regulation of collective self-consumption. He proposed solutions to expedite permits, such as one-stop shops in ports, and estimated that legal clarification could unlock investments of up to €500 million over the next five years.

Subsequently it was the turn of the block focused on the industrial value chain with Adolfo Rozadilla, responsible for Renewables at Ghenova Energía, who spoke about «OPS in the energy community».

Rozadillas presented scenario simulations where these advanced services such as cold ironing could cut up to 40% of annual port emissions, integrating sources such as floating wind for uninterrupted supply. Later, Rafael Gómez, manager of OFFSHORE Proinlosa, deepened on «The value chain industry of energy communities», highlighting the port’s capacity to handle structures up to 100 meters in length and the role of dredgers in preparing floating park docks. Gómez advocated investments in floating cranes to scale the capacity to 200 units per year.

Finally, Antonio Couceiro, president of the A Coruña Chamber of Commerce, reflected on support for the entrepreneurial fabric in this transition process. Couceiro stressed the need for public-private partnerships to scale projects, citing Galicia’s potential to export know-how to markets such as the Baltic and Mediterranean, where Ferrol’s experience in offshore logistics can generate contracts worth hundreds of millions.