Culatra wants to show that it is possible live only on clean energy and, for this, maritime transport must also adapt to this reality. The formula found to achieve this goal involves the Oyenne-based company Sunconcept, which could create solar boats for the nurserymen and a ferry, also solar, to transport passengers to the island.
André Pacheco, researcher at the Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA) of the University of Algarve and coordinator of the marine renewable energy team of this centre, told the Sul Informação that, within the scope of Culatra 2030, «at the moment, we have two projects in progress: the creation of an electric-solar platform for the activity of nurseries» and also the development of an electric-solar ferry.
According to the official, "we have had Sunconcept engineers design, with the nurserymen, this solar-electric platform, so that, later, the shellfish collectors can compete for the acquisition of these boats."
The idea is to «create a competitive option that would be implemented by all nurseries. We are aware that not everyone has the economic capacity to make the option of purchasing a solar boat, but for that, there is the Culatra 2030 fund, a social and environmental responsibility fund for the sustainability of the island of Culatra in the future».
“What we want is to support anyone with microcredit so that they can take steps in the island's energy transition, whether in electric mobility or through the installation of solar panels in houses, photovoltaic tiles or combating energy poverty,” adds André Pacheco.
In addition to the direct advantages of using solar boats for the activity of nurserymen in the Ria Formosa, there are also indirect advantages: «for example, we could create an oyster with zero carbon here, creating a different brand for this product», reveals the researcher.
With regard to the possibility of transporting passengers to the island using a solar vessel, André Pacheco says that the objective is to «bring together partners, such as Sun Concept, the Chamber of Olhão and the companies that make the transport, to address this idea, how to implement it and how we could finance the acquisition of this boat from Sun Concept».
André Pacheco believes that this “implies a change in management”. “There could be a pass for residents, but all visits to the island would contribute to the cost of part of that boat. The rest could be financed through European funds for electric mobility», he explains.
The importance of ensuring the sustainable transport of passengers to the island is highlighted because “it is not enough to make a project, with an energy transition agenda, for Culatra 2030, to a sustainable island, and then not take care of transport. This is the example that we want to give so that, later, it can be replicated in other barrier islands and in maritime-tourist transport in Portugal».
These ideas end up involving Sun Concept in yet another ambitious project, but nothing that scares the Algarve company.
«Since our genesis, we are used to challenges and to do more and better. The jump from a 7 meter boat to one of 12 [catamaran] it was abysmal and now we want to give more. If they are easy challenges, it loses the joke a little bit. We are very used to difficult challenges», concludes João Bastos commercial director of the company.
Fixed at 13:45 pm on June 26th: Unlike the information published by Sul Informação, André Pacheco is no longer deputy director of CIMA, acting as a researcher.
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