(C-WAVE) Climate-neutral waterborne transport: integrated assessment of electrified vessels in Swedish coastal and inland waterways

Research Project, 2027 – 2028

The rapid growth of freight transport challenges both infrastructure and the environment. Electrified waterborne transport offers a highly energy-efficient and climate-neutral alternative to road freight, particularly for coastal and inland waterways. This project focuses on advancing electromobility in shipping by integrating high-fidelity vessel operation simulations with energy system analysis to optimize performance, energy use, and infrastructure deployment.

Building on the VPF-IWV voyage planning framework and the ChaSE platform developed in previous projects at the Division of Marine Technology (at ME), the project will adapt electric propulsion and energy system modules for inland and coastal operations, including shallow, confined waterways and Swedish winter conditions. Route-specific simulations will quantify energy demand, assess battery performance, and evaluate operational reliability under environmental disturbances such as currents, waves, and ice.

The project will also perform life-cycle techno-environmental-economic assessment of alternative vessel concepts, comparing high-capacity ships and small-vessel platooning, while optimizing charging infrastructure location, power allocation, and utilization. By combining route-specific operational data, renewable energy integration, and electromobility assessment, the project will support the Swedish and the European shift from road to waterborne transport. The results will provide actionable guidance for industry adoption, policy development, and the deployment of resilient, low-emission, and electrified inland and coastal shipping systems.