Disruptive Technologies and Innovative Concepts for Energy Saving Onboard of long-distance ships (ZEWT Partnership)

Energy consumption of long-distance shipping should be reduced significantly to achieve sustainable worldwide trade. To achieve a more sustainable and environmentally friendly shipping industry, it is essential to continue developing disruptive technologies, advanced materials, and innovative concepts that can significantly reduce energy consumption of long-distance shipping. The objective of this topic is to support solutions for propulsion and non-propulsion energy consumption that aim to achieve at least at least 25% energy savings in long distance shipping as compared to 2008 levels, through the development and integration of standalone solutions. These technologies include (but are not limited to) active or passive increased performance solutions, novel propulsion systems, augmented propulsion technologies capitalizing also on ship motions, hull performance enhancements and the use of advanced materials which can further enhance energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of vessels. Any fuel-related proposals should only consider renewable low and zero-carbon fuels. These technologies and concepts should be applicable to various types of ships, including ro-pax, container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers.

Proposals are expected to address all the following aspects:

1. Development and demonstration at TRL 4-5 of novel, high-uncertainty but high-reward technologies that significantly reduce energy consumption in long distance shipping.
2. Development of various ship concepts, conducting replication studies for different case scenarios and modelling the real overall energy savings of the solutions and concepts developed.
3. Development of methodologies measuring the impact of the energy efficiency achieved on the GHG intensity and the impact on air pollution of the energy used for propulsion specifically for long distance shipping, with a focus on emission reductions, also facilitating the introduction of such technologies under the scope of LCA guidelines and FuelEU Maritime, and improving the EEDI, EEXI and CII performance where relevant.
4. Consider links with digital twin and AI-based optimisation aspects for the considered technologies (e.g. adaptive and model-predictive control), including the necessary sensing systems, to expand the system’s future capacities.
5. Model the economic viability of the developed technologies, considering initial investment, operational savings, maintenance costs, and potential financial incentives, to assess the economic feasibility while also facilitating decision-making in the design process.
6. Assessment of the safety and environmental implications of the solutions, including technical and operational risks, possible impacts to ships, ports and other land infrastructure.
7. Ensure appropriate sustainability of the action outputs by elaborating on a technology development roadmap and by exploring business cases.

Proposals are expected to explain the contribution of their objectives, results, IP management and exploitation strategy to the EU added value creation and strategic autonomy throughout the supply and value chain, including competitiveness of the EU waterborne industry, enhancement of the EU’s R&I capacity, technological know-how capabilities and human capital, and resilience of the EU industrial and manufacturing base. Proposals are encouraged to include synergies with shipyards, equipment manufacturers and providers, including start-ups and SMEs, located and/or manufacturing in the EU and EEA.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.