Decarbonising the Inland Waterways: A Review of Fuel-Agnostic Energy Provision and the Infrastructure Challenges

Paul Simavari, Kayvan Pazouki and Rosemary Norman ()
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Paul Simavari: Marine, Offshore and Subsea Technology Group, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Kayvan Pazouki: Marine, Offshore and Subsea Technology Group, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Rosemary Norman: Marine, Offshore and Subsea Technology Group, School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-37

Abstract: Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) is widely recognised as an energy-efficient freight mode, yet its decarbonisation is increasingly constrained not by propulsion technology, but by the absence of infrastructure capable of delivering clean energy where and when it is needed. This paper presents a structured review of over a decade of academic, policy and technical literature, identifying systemic gaps in current decarbonisation strategies. The analysis shows that most pilot projects are vessel-specific, and poorly scalable, with infrastructure planning rarely based on vessel-level energy demand data, leaving energy provision as an afterthought. Current approaches overemphasise technology readiness while neglecting the complexity of aligning supply chains, operational diversity, and infrastructure deployment. This review reframes IWT decarbonisation as a problem of provision, not propulsion. It calls for demand-led, demand driven, fuel agnostic infrastructure models and proposes a roadmap that integrates technical, operational, and policy considerations. Without rethinking energy access as a core design challenge—on par with vessel systems and regulatory standards—the sector risks investing in stranded assets and missing climate and modal shift targets. Aligning vessel operations with dynamic, scalable energy delivery systems is essential to achieve a commercially viable, fully decarbonised IWT sector.

Keywords: inland waterways transport; maritime decarbonisation; marine energy provision; zero-emission shipping; fuel agnostic infrastructure; vessel energy demand; dynamic energy delivery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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