The land headquarters of the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) has become, for a few days, the setting for a unique educational experience for students from 15 schools in Gran Canaria, participants in the EduBlue Project, blue emissions and sounds. This initiative, driven by PLOCAN and aligned with its commitment to ocean literacy, aims to bring marine science and technology closer to classrooms through practical and collaborative activities.
During the sessions, students were able to test floating renewable energy and hydrogen generation models, which they had previously built at their schools, in the educational pools of PLOCAN. These structures simulate offshore renewable marine energy technologies, while gasoline generators were used as a model to simulate a conventional thermal power plant.
Using CO₂ sensors, students carried out comparative measurements between renewable systems and fossil fuel generators. Additionally, they established correlations between emission levels and those of a real thermal power plant. This activity allowed them to understand the environmental impacts of the current energy model and explore more sustainable alternatives from an experimental perspective.
The participants were introduced to the field of marine acoustics, learning how hydrophone technology is used to study marine species such as cetaceans, by analyzing underwater sounds for research and conservation of biodiversity in the Canary waters.
The EduBlue Project sessions provided students with a unique experience to reflect on the current energy model, practically comparing marine renewable energies with traditional fossil fuel-based systems. Additionally, students were able to observe the use of hydrophones for detecting underwater sounds, becoming familiar with essential technologies for ocean study and monitoring.
These tools allow not only the evaluation of the environmental impact of different forms of energy generation but also the monitoring of the presence and behavior of marine species, which are crucial to ensuring compatibility between human activity in the oceans and biodiversity conservation.
