Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MAGPIE (sMArt Green Ports as Integrated Efficient multimodal hubs)
Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2023-03-31
The Green deal is an ambitious plan set out by the European Commission. Its main goals are: 1) achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050; 2) decouple economic growth from resource use; 3) ensure that all persons/places make part of the transition process. Accomplishing 1 is a muti-sectoral problem (transports, industries, etc.) that requires adopting new green energy vectors or increasing the utilization of existing ones. Independently from which option is chosen, it constitutes a broad and complex process that involves analysing all the sectors of a supply chain. Indeed, it is not possible to adopt a new green energy supply chain/vector (or increase the use of an existing one) without an assessment of what will be the infrastructure needs in terms of production, storage, and distribution.
The MAGPIE project is an international collaboration working on demonstrating technical, operational, and procedural energy supply and digital solutions in a living lab environment to stimulate green, smart, and integrated multimodal transport and ensure roll-out through the European Green Port of the Future Master Plan and dissemination and exploitation activities. The consortium, coordinated by the Port of Rotterdam, consists of 3 other ports (DeltaPort, Sines and HAROPA), 9 research institutes and universities, 32 private companies, and 4 other organisations. The project is divided in 10 main work packages which include energy supply chains, digital tools, 10 demonstrators for maritime, inland water, road, and rail transport, non-technological innovations, and the development of a Master Plan for European Green ports.
The MAGPIE project is an international collaboration working on demonstrating technical, operational, and procedural energy supply and digital solutions in a living lab environment to stimulate green, smart, and integrated multimodal transport and ensure roll-out through the European Green Port of the Future Master Plan and dissemination and exploitation activities. The consortium, coordinated by the Port of Rotterdam, consists of 3 other ports (DeltaPort, Sines and HAROPA), 9 research institutes and universities, 32 private companies, and 4 other organisations. The project is divided in 10 main work packages which include energy supply chains, digital tools, 10 demonstrators for maritime, inland water, road, and rail transport, non-technological innovations, and the development of a Master Plan for European Green ports.
MAGPIE started with defining the status of the energy requirements for the transport sector involved to, from, and in ports. This resulted in an overview of the currently required quantities per energy vector as a starting point. Towards the end of the project, another evaluation of the quantities will be done based on the future exploitation of the MAGPIE concepts. The demonstration on BioLNG production faced difficulties in selecting a suitable location for the demonstration. The development of a smart energy system focussed on linking with the energy matching platform and the overall structure of such system. The shore power peak shaving demonstration studied the energy trading possibilities of a battery in port which can be used to shave the peaks in the grid when large loads are required for a ship. The demonstration was tuned based on developments in the demonstrator and business opportunities for partners.
For the digital systems identification of digital platforms was done which followed in the definition of the modular architecture for the digital twin. Furthermore, services for which the digital twin of the port can be used were explored. One of the components of the digital twin is the energy matching where demand and supply are coupled.
Four demonstrators focussing on maritime and inland waterway transport started in this reporting period focussing on ammonia bunkering, offshore charging of electrical vessels, autonomous barge operations, and electric barge operations. Ammonia bunkering solutions have been studied from safety and operational perspectives which resulted in an ammonia storage solution. The e-charging buoy was designed, simulated, and tested at model scale. The tests showed some possible improvements which were included in the design and simulations. Both demonstrators on the autonomous barge and the electric barge have found difficulties in finding a suitable barge for the demonstrator. It was the intent to use the same barge for both demonstrators, high requirements for this barge however are limiting the possibilities.
Three demonstrators on land-based transport focussed on a hybrid locomotive, green connected trucking, and spreading road traffic. A hybrid shunting locomotive, that can operate on batteries when not connected to the overhead line, was ordered for delivery and testing in 2024. For the green connected trucking demonstration discussions with trucking companies commenced to agree on trucks to be used for the demonstrator of in-port trucking operations. A concept for a decoupling point in the port area was developed. A demonstration with an automated truck was done in November 2022 in a protected environment as a step up to the demonstration of autonomous operations in port and automated docking for re-charging. The concept of spreading road traffic was developed to reduce congestion during rush-hour. For this as study was done into the willingness of terminals and depots to operate during the night. The developments have caught the attention of many stakeholders expressing interest in the next steps. For hinterland transport a logistical model for sustainable synchro-modal transport is developed in MAGPIE. During the first reporting period the model requirements and layout was developed.
The most promising non-technological solutions were identified and selected for further development, clustered as policy solutions, business concepts, and information provision and quality. A set of 9 non-technological solutions resulted from this study. Following this list, a detailed design and assessment of these innovations commenced focussing on the effective application and impact for the sector.
To evaluate the demonstrators, a measurement and evaluation framework was initiated. The diversity of topics in the demonstrators makes it challenging to develop one framework that can measure and evaluate all relevant parameters. For each demonstrator a baseline scenario was developed against which the developments in the MAGPIE project will be compered. Comparison will be done based on continuous monitoring of relevant parameters during the demonstrations.
The process of coming to a Master Plan for European green ports started in this period with the evaluation of the current state of the green transition in ports. For this a port characterisation scheme was developed based on three main themes: energy infrastructure and technologies, sea going ships and hinterland connections, and governance. Furthermore, the development of a bold vision for the future green European port has started with a series of brainstorm sessions and workshops coming to a visual for the green European port in 2050.
For the digital systems identification of digital platforms was done which followed in the definition of the modular architecture for the digital twin. Furthermore, services for which the digital twin of the port can be used were explored. One of the components of the digital twin is the energy matching where demand and supply are coupled.
Four demonstrators focussing on maritime and inland waterway transport started in this reporting period focussing on ammonia bunkering, offshore charging of electrical vessels, autonomous barge operations, and electric barge operations. Ammonia bunkering solutions have been studied from safety and operational perspectives which resulted in an ammonia storage solution. The e-charging buoy was designed, simulated, and tested at model scale. The tests showed some possible improvements which were included in the design and simulations. Both demonstrators on the autonomous barge and the electric barge have found difficulties in finding a suitable barge for the demonstrator. It was the intent to use the same barge for both demonstrators, high requirements for this barge however are limiting the possibilities.
Three demonstrators on land-based transport focussed on a hybrid locomotive, green connected trucking, and spreading road traffic. A hybrid shunting locomotive, that can operate on batteries when not connected to the overhead line, was ordered for delivery and testing in 2024. For the green connected trucking demonstration discussions with trucking companies commenced to agree on trucks to be used for the demonstrator of in-port trucking operations. A concept for a decoupling point in the port area was developed. A demonstration with an automated truck was done in November 2022 in a protected environment as a step up to the demonstration of autonomous operations in port and automated docking for re-charging. The concept of spreading road traffic was developed to reduce congestion during rush-hour. For this as study was done into the willingness of terminals and depots to operate during the night. The developments have caught the attention of many stakeholders expressing interest in the next steps. For hinterland transport a logistical model for sustainable synchro-modal transport is developed in MAGPIE. During the first reporting period the model requirements and layout was developed.
The most promising non-technological solutions were identified and selected for further development, clustered as policy solutions, business concepts, and information provision and quality. A set of 9 non-technological solutions resulted from this study. Following this list, a detailed design and assessment of these innovations commenced focussing on the effective application and impact for the sector.
To evaluate the demonstrators, a measurement and evaluation framework was initiated. The diversity of topics in the demonstrators makes it challenging to develop one framework that can measure and evaluate all relevant parameters. For each demonstrator a baseline scenario was developed against which the developments in the MAGPIE project will be compered. Comparison will be done based on continuous monitoring of relevant parameters during the demonstrations.
The process of coming to a Master Plan for European green ports started in this period with the evaluation of the current state of the green transition in ports. For this a port characterisation scheme was developed based on three main themes: energy infrastructure and technologies, sea going ships and hinterland connections, and governance. Furthermore, the development of a bold vision for the future green European port has started with a series of brainstorm sessions and workshops coming to a visual for the green European port in 2050.
MAGPIE is progressing the use of smart and green solutions for transport to, from, and in port beyond the state of the art by demonstrating technical concepts and breaking through barriers. This is achieved by demonstrating technical solutions for IWT, maritime, road, and rail transport focussing on the use of green energy carriers and smart use of available resources. In parallel, the availability of clean energy carriers are studied to make sure there is enough green energy for the transport sector. Although technical solutions may be available, there may remain barriers preventing stakeholders to transition to these solutions. MAGPIE will address these (non-technological) barriers and propose regulatory, funding, and/or financial solutions.
The results of MAGPIE directly impact the wider society as MAGPIE contributes to decreasing congestion and increasing air quality. Solutions proposed aim at being an affordable alternative to business as usual, having minimum impact on the costs of transport. MAGPIE solutions will create a shift in jobs, requiring new skills of the workforce. This impact will be addressed with stakeholders.
The results of MAGPIE directly impact the wider society as MAGPIE contributes to decreasing congestion and increasing air quality. Solutions proposed aim at being an affordable alternative to business as usual, having minimum impact on the costs of transport. MAGPIE solutions will create a shift in jobs, requiring new skills of the workforce. This impact will be addressed with stakeholders.