FEATURE

reliability and resilience of the cable system.

• In addition to the Olisipo system, the EllaLink system already in operation brings another diverse low latency route connecting Sines to Latin America.

SINES: THE BEST NEXT INTERCONNECTION HUB IN EUROPE

“Sines and Lisbon together will be able to compete with major European Hubs as both cities are being seen as a preferable gateway to Europe already.”

Recognizing the potential of Sines, EllaLink has identified it as the ideal location for the next interconnection hub in Europe. Sines offers unique advantages that make it an attractive gateway to Europe. Its strategic location along the Portuguese coast provides a natural landing point for undersea cables, including the Olisipo system. The availability of land in Sines provides ample space for developing data centres and other related infrastructure. This generates opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and innovation in the region.

Sines, with its strategic location has the potential to become the next interconnection hub in Europe. The presence of the Start Campus and its commitment to developing green energy ecosystems, including establishing a giant green data centre, further strengthen the region’s position as a gateway to Europe. Sines is poised to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and the development of sustainable digital infrastructure.

Sines, with its strategic location, available land, sustainable power sources, and water availability, has the potential to become the next interconnection hub in Europe. The presence of the Start Campus and its commitment to developing green energy ecosystems, including the establishment of a green giant data center, further strengthens the region’s position as a gateway to Europe. Sines is poised to unlock new opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and the development of sustainable digital infrastructure.

Moreover, Sines benefits from sustainable power sources, including renewable energy. Portugal has made significant investments in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, making it a leading country in the clean energy transition. Sines can leverage these sustainable power sources to meet the energy demands of data centres and other digital infrastructure. This aligns with the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions and positions Sines as an attractive location for companies seeking to establish sustainable operations.

The proximity of Sines to the ocean ensures abundant water availability, which is essential for cooling data centres and other industrial operations. This proximity also enables the utilization of seawater for desalination, providing a potential solution to water scarcity issues that other regions may face. Additionally, the maritime connection of Sines opens possibilities for future underwater research, exploration, and marine-related industries.

Furthermore, the development of the Start Campus in Sines adds another layer of significance to the region. Start Campus is a company dedicated to developing 100% green energy ecosystems. It is responsible for establishing a green giant data centre in Sines, Portugal. This initiative aligns with the global shift towards sustainable practices and positions Sines as a pioneer in hosting environmentally friendly data centres. The Start Campus project further enhances the potential of Sines as a hub for innovation, research, and development in the digital realm. STF play for offshore wind.

Climate Change

While the telecom industry has been operating for quite some time and has made significant advances in our knowledge of benthic marine environments, climate change is one issue that we will have to face in conjunction with all offshore maritime industries and the wider world. The push for projects concerning environmental monitoring and communications is spreading throughout the industry, with a current focus on issues relating to marine megafauna and fisheries targets. Initiatives such as SMART cables and similar monitoring systems in offshore wind will go a long way towards narrowing existing knowledge gaps and ensuring that we have lengthy and reliable data records as our seas undergo this period of immense change.

As mentioned previously, interdisciplinary initiatives such as ROSA will be integral in encouraging data sharing and data tracking as some common fisheries and conservation target species exhibit spatial and temporal distribution shifts. By working together, industry and local stakeholders can broaden our collective knowledge of how the oceans around us will be impacted by climate change related phenomena. As such, we can hope to mitigate issues to the best of our abilities and focus on nurturing sustainable growth of both telecom and offshore wind industries, keeping the world connected and providing reliable sources of clean, renewable wind energy. Similarly, collective knowledge on natural system faults, both for subsea cables and offshore wind infrastructure, will contribute to our understanding of how best to shift future engineering and operation innovations to cope with an increase in strength and frequency of inclement weather events and other climatic factors.

Summary

Throughout both industries, a common theme is the importance of early and continued stakeholder engagement. “We stand by the idea that stakeholder engagement and outreach with other maritime users and operators is incredibly important,” Ryan Wopschall, ICPC GM states, “Raising awareness of subsea cables within the offshore renewable energy sector and encouraging developers and stakeholders to contact us in regard to new and ongoing projects will further facilitate safe and efficient use of marine resources and long-term protection of seabed infrastructure.” All marine users must be considered throughout project development, and these considerations, alongside