Resilience Promoting Autonomous Zero-Emissions Barges
One of ReNEW’s key pillars is that a fleet of smaller and increasingly automated vessels will inherently increase the resilience of the overall infrastructure.
This living lab proposes to use an autonomous CEMT class 4 barge (the X-barge) to demonstrate and test the improved resilience of the IWT infrastructure. It will use a disruptive barge concept, combining digitisation, alternative propulsion, and autonomy.
In combination with LL1, this LL4 will complement automation to longer international routes and different, larger-size logistics.
Scenario
The new barge will be used to test its physical effects on the waterways, actual energy use vs larger vessels, the provisions of the required infrastructure and prove its economic competitiveness on waterways from Ghent (Belgium) to Duisburg (Germany), passing through the Netherlands.
Specifically, the proposed transit is from Gent to Antwerpen to Alblasserdam to Nijmegen to Duisburg. This means passing through waterways managed and controlled by 3 countries: Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Living Lab 4 update – September 2023
In the past period Living Lab 4 has progressed further and the following has been achieved: The design of the X barge has advanced and the construction plans are in full development. Starting from the GA plans, actual steel parts design needs to be done and the practical workings of the technical parts need to be finalised so that the shipyard has a full set of plans with list of materials. This is developed in a loop process, which is now underway.
The Flanders Hydraulics Institute (https://www.waterbouwkundiglaboratorium.be/en) has been contracted to execute the necessary analyses on the performance of the barge on constrained and shallow waters. This will give data that will be researched during the living lab.
All the potential stakeholders of the regulatory context have been identified and meeting are being planned in the fall 2023 to engage with these stakeholders for using the vessel in their respective zones. A common approach is being developed in order to achieve efficiency.
Negotiations and technical exchanges are underway with the two potential providers of batteries along the proposed route. This entails determining the sites, the necessary infrastructure for loading/unloading and the specifications of the batteries. Negotiations with Danser as time charterer of the X barge are in the final stages and appropriate time charter contracts are in final redaction.
Partners involved
