The Port Authority of Valencia has launched a new climate adaptation plan covering the ports of Valencia, Sagunto and Gandia, which will assess vulnerabilities to extreme weather, including rough seas, heavy rainfall, heatwaves and rising sea levels. The programme is part of Valenciaport’s Net Zero Emissions Plan, which targets carbon neutrality by 2035 and aims to align infrastructure resilience with its energy transition objectives.
The study, awarded to engineering consultancy Ineco, will run for 14 months and focus on identifying critical risks across core assets such as quays, breakwaters, terminals and access points. The work will also include cost-benefit assessments to prioritise investment in adaptation measures, reflecting increasing scrutiny from both regulators and investors on the economic viability of climate resilience projects.
Valenciaport said the aim is to create ‘eco-proactive ports’ capable of maintaining operational continuity under more volatile weather conditions. The approach aligns with Spain’s national port strategy, which requires all state-owned ports to implement adaptation measures by 2030.
Through its Net Zero Emissions Plan, Valenciaport is incorporating emissions reductions and climate resilience into a unified infrastructure and energy strategy. This is especially important for cargo hubs that will play a role in emerging carbon value chains, including CO2 handling, alternative fuel bunkering and electrified port operations.
The plan includes the port’s ‘TwinShip’ project, an integrated digital twin framework, co-funded by the EU, to enable green ship operations towards zero-emission vessels. The project has the stated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30-40% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045 using clean technologies and unmanned vessels for sustainable operations.
The authority is making further investments in two electrical substations scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2028, and expanding shore power supply across multiple terminals. A digital energy management system based on digital twin technology is expected to be deployed from 2027, enabling real-time optimisation of energy use.
The port authority has set an additional objective of achieving energy self-sufficiency by 2035 and will progress towards integrated energy hubs that can support both port operations and wider maritime decarbonisation pathways.
