PIANC Smart Rivers 2022

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Abstract : *(250~1000 words)

A roadmap towards eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants of the inland navigation sector by 2050 – how to address the related economic, financial, technical and regulatory obstacles?

Authors: Mrs Laure Roux, Mr Benjamin Boyer, Mr Raphael Wisselmann

In the Mannheim Declaration of 17 October 2018, the transport ministers of France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands tasked the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) to develop a roadmap aiming at largely eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants of the inland navigation sector by 2050. This energy transition must be seen as a crucial challenge for Rhine and European inland navigation. Based on today’s knowledge, while innovations to reduce emissions from existing and new vessels have increased in recent years, they tend to be limited to pilot projects, which are however of utmost importance in gaining knowledge of new technologies, and addressing economic, financial, technical and regulatory obstacles to the deployment of relevant technologies. 
Despite uncertainties concerning especially the development, the cost, the level of maturity and the availability of the technologies contributing to the transition towards a zero-emission inland navigation sector, it is necessary to start designing an approach towards this ambitious objective that can be sustained in the medium and long-term. In this context, identifying and considering the measures enabling an accelerated transition towards zero-emissions (such as regulatory measures, monitoring of the emissions, financial support for the energy transition…), together with the development of technology transition pathways for the fleet, are essential elements. This roadmap notably builds on the final results on the CCNR study on the energy transition towards a zero-emissions inland navigation sector and its funding and financing. 
In particular, the roadmap outlines two transition pathways for the fleet (new and existing vessels). A more conservative pathway, based on technologies that are already mature, cost efficient in the short-term but with uncertainties on the availability on certain fuels, and a more innovative one, relying on technologies still in their infancy stage but providing more promising emission reduction potential on the long run. The pathways also address the role which the different technological solutions will play in the energy transition challenge, assess their suitability according to the different fleet families in Europe and the sailing profiles of the vessels. A key conclusion points to the absence of a “one size fits all" technology solution adapted to all types of vessels and navigation profiles. A technologically neutral approach is relevant to achieve the energy transition. Considerations regarding the financial challenge and possible no-regret investments are also important elements to take into account. Indeed, the financial gap to be bridged to realize the energy transition towards zero emissions varies significantly from one pathway to another but is expected to reach several billions in both and cannot be covered by the sector alone. The roadmap also foresees an implementation plan aiming at addressing economic, technical, social and regulatory aspects through concrete policy measures. It also paves the way for a European funding and financing instrument.

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