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.
Partners involved
