What is Dynamic Energy Distribution?

A flexible approach to decarbonising inland waterway transport through intelligent energy logistics.

Key Insight

Unlike road transport where vehicles can reliably access fixed charging points, inland vessels operate in a dynamic environment where energy needs vary dramatically by vessel type, route, and operational patterns. This requires fundamentally different approaches to energy distribution when considering the switch to zero-emission operations.

The Decarbonisation Challenge for Inland Waterways

Inland waterway transport (IWT) has long been considered one of the most energy-efficient modes of freight movement, yet the sector remains overwhelmingly dependent on diesel propulsion. With the European Green Deal targeting a 90% reduction in transport emissions by 2050, and similar ambitions globally, the pressure to transition to zero-emission solutions has never been greater.

However, the path to decarbonisation is far from straightforward. While battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies show promise for road vehicles, their application to inland vessels presents unique challenges:

• Vessels require much larger energy capacities than road vehicles (often 1-10 MWh per trip)

• Charging opportunities are limited by waterway geography and operational constraints

• Diverse vessel types have radically different operational profiles

The Energy Challenge of Diverse Vessel Fleets

Consider this: a 2,000-tonne bulk carrier making a 300km journey through multiple locks has fundamentally different energy requirements than a pilot boat making short, high-speed dashes to guide ships into port. Yet both operate on the same waterways and both must transition to zero-emission operations.

Understanding Dynamic Energy Distribution

Dynamic Energy Distribution (DED) is a real-time energy management framework that considers multiple variables to optimise energy usage across the inland waterway network. At its core, DED answers three critical questions:

Energy Demand Variations Across Vessel Types

The charts below give a very simplistic high level view that illustrates the dramatic differences in energy demand profiles across different vessel types operating on the same waterway network. In reality, these differences are much more complex and are impacted, dynamically, by dozens of variables that are very difficult to predict. Looking at this simplistic view though shows how these variations make a one-size-fits-all approach to decarbonisation impossible from an infrastructure perspective.

Comparative Energy Demand Profiles

Operational Profile Variations Among Similar Vessels

The Path Forward

Implementing Dynamic Energy Distribution requires sophisticated monitoring systems, predictive analytics, and flexible energy infrastructure. Research in this area should focuses on three key pillars:

The decarbonisation of inland waterways isn't just about replacing diesel engines with batteries or hydrogen fuel cells. It's about creating an intelligent energy ecosystem that understands and responds to the complex, dynamic needs of diverse vessels operating in ever-changing conditions. Dynamic Energy Distribution provides the framework to make this possible.

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Paul Simavari - ZEIWW and Newcastle University Researcher

Marine engineer, researcher, and advocate for practical decarbonisation of Europe’s inland waterways. I write to share insights, challenges, and progress from my PhD journey — with the aim of turning data into real-world solutions that work for the people who rely on these waterways every day.

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