The ocean is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Taking advantage of the energy opportunities offered by the marine environment will greatly contribute to the decarbonization of the electric power system. The PLOCAN Marine Test Site enables and contributes to the acceleration in the development of technologies and knowledge in the marine environment in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the first days of November, on the occasion of the Canary Islands Science and Innovation Weeks 2021, PLOCAN organized a guided visit to its land-based headquarters, where attendees, in addition to learning about some of the work being carried out at the platform, were able to visit the unmanned underwater vehicle laboratory and learn about the mission being carried out by the Wave Glider that is operating in waters close to the west coast of the island of La Palma affected by the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano. After the visit of the facilities and within the framework of the EDUROVs project, the participants took part in a workshop on renewable energies in which they decomposed the H2O molecule into oxygen and hydrogen gases by means of water electrolysis. The hydrogen obtained was used to generate energy through an electrochemical reaction.
EDUROVs aims to build robots from low-cost materials, with free software and hardware, to bring students closer to science and technology in a practical way and stimulate professional vocations in the field of technology, and has the support of CaixaBank, through a financial contribution from the “la Caixa” Foundation, as well as the Government Area of Economic Development, Energy Sovereignty, Climate and Knowledge of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and PLOCAN.
The Science and Innovation Weeks in the Canary Islands are promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Knowledge and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands through the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI).