RegenPorts

RegenPorts is a innovation program created by the Port Authority of Barcelona through the BCN Port Innovation Foundation, designed to lead environmental regeneration projects and respond to the growing regulatory and social demands in terms of sustainability.

Type of innovation: Disruptive

Program status: In progress

Parties involved

Associates

ODS

(Sustainable Development Goals)

Background

Traditional port activity generates alterations in the aquatic block. This has led to a significant loss of natural capital in the form of marine life and diversity, as well as key ecosystem services.

On the other hand, the European Union (EU) is leading the way towards a decarbonised and environmentally friendly future, driving all sectors with two new environmental regulations:

– EU ETS (EU Emissions Trading System).
– CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive).

In this context, the programme aligns with these regulations that oblige companies to demonstrate their active commitment to sustainability in an efficient way, opening an opportunity for innovative regeneration models.

RegenPorts is born as a programme to address both situations, generating a bridge between companies and the port environment, facilitating the reversal of these impacts through regeneration and environmental repopulation solutions. The programme integrates innovative technologies with a prior validation process, subsequently supported by natural capital monetisation models to restore and improve the ecological reality of these environments with a sustainable and scalable model of marine regeneration.

Description

RegenPorts is an entity created by the Barcelona Port Authority through the BCN Port Innovation Foundation, designed to lead environmental regeneration projects and respond to the growing regulatory and social demands in terms of sustainability.

Our vision

To transform ports into spaces for the active regeneration of natural capital, generating positive impacts on the environment and creating value for companies.

Objectives

Restore and regenerate biodiversity.
Develop additional ecosystem services.
Improve water and air quality.
Contribute to port decarbonisation.

What initiatives do we promote?

RegenPorts is integrating new pilot projects with different technologies that improve and contribute to generating a positive impact on the Port of Barcelona.

The first pilot project consists of the development of a renaturalisation programme for the Port of Barcelona through the implementation of Life Boosting Units® (LBU®) within the port area. The LBUs favour the regeneration of marine biodiversity within the port, with a positive impact that is measured and reported on an ongoing basis.

Once the first pilot project enters the expansion phase, a second programme will be incorporated.

Each initiative that is incorporated must pass through three key phases:

Research, pilots and technology validation.
Expansion of the pilot model.
Consolidation and monetisation of the regenerated natural capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Life Boosting Units (LBUs) work?

Life Boosting Units (LBUs) replicate the functioning of natural reefs, providing a habitat for the development of complex and therefore resilient ecosystems. To do this, they combine three elements:

1. Life Boosting Mix®: a natural microfauna attraction system, whereby larvae and small organisms are attracted to the LBU.
2. Calcium carbonate substrate: the most suitable substrate for the colonisation of the different species.
3. Multilayer design: providing space for nursery effect.

Do they work in environments such as commercial harbours?

LBUs have been successfully used in the port of Barcelona as well as in 25 ports and marinas. The biomass that develops in LBUs captures oxygen and oxygenates the water, and the increased biodiversity allows for more complex, richer and resilient ecosystems. Implemented at scale, LBUs can visibly transform harbour water quality and contribute to improving the environment.

Can environmental or carbon sequestration credits be earned?

Currently there are no nature credits for renaturation of marine areas or for blue carbon sequestration (in the ocean). However, the results obtained at the LBU level will be stored, opening up the possibility of retroactive claiming once environmental credits are approved.

The monitoring & reporting system, validated by scientists, also allows to calculate the economic value of the restored ecosystem services (environmental improvement, influence on fisheries, impact on the local community…).

Why can this not be considered ‘Greenwashing’?

The measurement of results and the transparency of the system are fundamental to eliminate any suspicion of greenwashing. In project communications, images of the identified species can be combined with quantitative data and the results obtained. There is also the possibility of incorporating these results in the publicly accessible PPP, which not only ensures transparency, but also facilitates social involvement and reinforces communication.

These results can be used in the sustainability report as they will be adapted to Omnibus and CSRDD or CSRDDD standards. At the same time, work is being carried out to obtain certification by an independent entity of international prestige.

What is the installation schedule?

If units are not available, LBUs require a 4-week manufacturing period and 6 months to complete the carbonation process with the optimal thickness and texture to maximize marine regeneration capacity.

Documents

Conditions First Call RegenPorts Program

Do you want to know more? Download the guidelines for the First Call of the RegenPorts Program.

PDF