Search Results (27)

In recent years, there has been a fast expansion in the usage of renewable energy sources (RESs) in power distribution systems. Numerous advantages result from this advancement, such as environmental friendliness, cost-effective power generation, easier maintenance, and energy sustainability and reliability. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels, which are of significant environmental concern, and increasing energy efficiency are two benefits of integrating RESs into maritime systems, such as port microgrids. As a result, ports are implementing several programs to increase energy efficiency using various RESs that are supported by power electronic converters. To highlight the most recent developments in seaport electrification and infrastructure, this work conducts a systematic review. It addresses important issues like energy efficiency enhancements, environmental concerns, the integration of renewable energy sources, the Internet of Things (IoT), and regulatory and legal compliance. The study also discusses technology strategies like digitization, electrification, onshore power supply systems, and port energy storage options. Operational tactics, including peak-shaving methods and energy-efficient operations, are also covered. Additionally, an infrastructure framework—which includes port microgrids and smart seaport microgrids—that is intended to enhance energy efficiency in contemporary ports is examined. Full article

Depending on the type of fuels used by ships in maritime port operations, emissions may contribute more or less to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The maneuvering of ships at maritime ports uses mainly auxiliary engines, resulting in a significant contribution to emissions. It is understandable that the energy transition in this sector brings benefits and is essential to sustainability, considering its economic and strategic importance. Among the measures established to ensure this transition is the onshore power supply and increased electrification in transportation operations. Maritime ports are not yet prepared for these adjustments, as their heterogeneity and contexts require further research, such as studying the impact of depth on energy consumption, terminal type, and others. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achievable through the implementation of an onshore power supply at the Port of Sines, Portugal. Furthermore, it aims to identify the key factors influencing these adoptions to provide practical recommendations that can guide in advancing energy transition, reducing reliance on fuels, and fostering a sustainable future for the port industry. Full article

Maritime transportation significantly contributes to air pollution, especially in coastal cities. Air pollution represents the greatest health risk related to the environment in the European Union. Therefore, the European Commission published the European Green Deal, which introduces the rule of zero-emission requirements for ships at berths with the mandatory use of power supply from shore or alternative technologies without emissions. The electrification of ferries has proven to be a key approach in reducing the negative impact on the environment; hence, it is necessary to provide adequate infrastructure for charging electric ferries. To determine the energy needs of the shore connection, a daily energy profile of the ferry fleet was created. Due to the sailing schedule, daily energy needs may be non-periodic. By optimizing the charging process, a reduction in peak charging power can be achieved. The charging process was optimized using particle swarm optimization. To improve the function goal, the parameters of the model were analyzed and optimized. It was found that the correct selection of population size and inertia weight factor can significantly enhance the optimization effect. The proposed model can be applied to other ports of interest, considering the specifics of the exploitation of the fleet of ships. Full article

Decarbonization of shipping is a legal obligation imposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The ferry port and daily operations located near or in urban zones negatively impact the nearby environment. The electrification of ferries contributes to reducing the negative environmental impact. The available electrical infrastructure in ports often does not meet daily needs. The ferry fleet’s sailing schedule creates a non-periodic daily energy profile to determine the energy needs of the shore connection. The proposed research aims to optimize the daily electric ferry fleet peak charging power schedule process using particle swarm optimization and a greedy algorithm. A four-stage model has been proposed, consisting of the initialization of the ferry fleet’s daily energy profile, initial population generation with input constraints, optimization, and the creation of the modified daily energy load diagram. Robustness and validation of the proposed model were investigated and proven for energy profiles with and without optimization. For the proposed charging schedule, the study results show a reduction in peak power of 24%. By optimizing the charging process, peak charging power has been reduced without needing an additional energy storage system. Full article

Regarding the decision to opt for vehicles with electric propulsion systems to achieve a sustainable future, much research has focused on the electrification of passenger cars, since this class of vehicles is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. The purpose of this paper is to assess the energy performance of an electric vehicle used as a taxi in Loja, Ecuador, an intermediate Andean city, using a model-driven approach. Data acquisition was performed through the OBDII port of the KIA SOUL EV for 24 days and the variable mass of the vehicle was recorded as a function of the number of passengers; the effects of road gradient were also considered. The energy performance of the vehicle was simulated by developing an analytical model in MATLAB/Simulink. An average measured battery performance of 8.49 ± 1.4 km/kWh per day was obtained, where the actual energy regenerated was 31.2 ± 1.5%. To validate the proposed model, the results of the daily energy performance estimated with the simulation were compared with those measured in real driving conditions. The results demonstrated a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.93, indicating a strong positive linear dependence between the variables. In addition, a coefficient of determination of 0.86 and a mean absolute percentage error of 3.35% were obtained, suggesting that the model has a satisfactory predictive capacity for energy performance. Full article

Assessing carbon emission reduction potential is vital for achieving carbon peak and neutrality in the maritime sector. In this study, we proposed a universal framework for assessing the effectiveness of different measures on carbon emission reduction from ships, including port and ship electrification (PSE), ship speed optimization (SSO), and clean fuel substitution (CFS). Firstly, the projection method of future ship traffic flows and activity levels relies on a neural network, and the ARIMA model was proposed. Then, the potential of various emission reduction measures was detailed and analyzed under different intensity scenarios. The proposed model was applied to Wuhan port, the results indicate that CFS is the most effective for long-term decarbonization, potentially achieving a carbon peak by 2025 under an aggressive scenario. For the short to medium term, PSE is favored due to technical maturity. SSO primarily delays emissions growth, making it a suitable auxiliary measure. These findings guide emission reduction strategies for ports, fostering green and sustainable shipping development. Full article

The adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) is an effective strategy for pollution reduction, especially for high-emitting commercial vehicles. This paper systematically reviews the promotion policies and development status of zero-emission commercial vehicles (ZECVs) in China, with a focus on diverse application scenarios. Comprehensive policies, including subsidies, right-of-way, infrastructure development, and environmental protection incentives, have significantly advanced NEV adoption, as demonstrated by Shenzhen’s full electrification of buses and the extensive deployment of zero-emission trucks. Despite the overall slow development of ZECVs, regions in southern China and developed areas exhibit better progress. Medium and large passenger vehicles (MLPVs) have achieved a zero-emission rate of around 40%, contrasting with the significantly lower rates of 1.52% for mini and light trucks (MLTs) and 0.44% for medium and heavy trucks (MHTs). Electrification promotion varies significantly in different application scenarios, with buses leading at over 90% zero-emission rates, followed by the airport (24%) and port (16%) vehicles. The electrification of sanitation, logistics, and key industry transport, through lagging, is enhanced by targeted policies and local industry. Buses are designated as the highest priority (Level 1) for electrification transition while intercity logistics and vehicles in key industries are categorized as the lowest priority (Level 4). In addition, policy recommendations, including tailored strategies for ZECV promotion and emission reductions in traditional commercial vehicles, are put forward to provide guidance and reference for setting future zero-emission promotion goals and policy direction for commercial vehicles in subdivided application scenarios. Full article

Providing electrical power to ships while they are docked, cold ironing allows ships to turn off their engines and reduces emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. This study identifies and assesses ship and port emissions and analyzes the potential for emission reduction achievable by cold ironing in European ports. It includes (1) a review of the current state of cold ironing in European ports; (2) an analysis of the time spent in ports by ships; (3) a quantification of emissions potentially avoided by means of a larger-scale use of cold ironing in Europe; (4) an estimation of the benefits achievable and the perspective to play a role in meeting emission reduction targets, improving air quality in port cities; (5) an analysis of the challenges and limitations of larger-scale cold ironing implementation; (6) potential solutions to overcome them. The results of this study could have important implications for (a) the shipping industry, which could benefit from the need for additional standardized electrical equipment onboard; (b) port authorities, which could benefit from providing additional services to the ships; (c) policymakers working to reduce emissions and promote energy efficiency, who could better approach their local and global targets. Full article

Transport electrification is essential for reducing CO₂ emissions, and technologies such as hybrid and range-extended electric vehicles will play a crucial transitional role. Such vehicles employ an internal combustion engine for on-board chemical energy conversion. The Wankel rotary engine should be an excellent candidate for this purpose, offering a high power-to-weight ratio, simplicity, compactness, perfect balance, and low cost. Until recently, however, it has not been in production in the automotive market, due, in part, to relatively low combustion efficiency and high fuel consumption and unburnt hydrocarbon emissions, which can be traced to constraints on flame speed, an elongated combustion chamber, and relatively low compression ratios. This work used large eddy simulations to study the in-chamber flow in a peripherally ported 225cc Wankel rotary engine, providing insight into these limitations. Flow structures created during the intake phase play a key role in turbulence production but the presence of the pinch point inherent to Wankel engine combustion chambers inhibits flame propagation. Two efficiency-enhancement technologies are introduced as disruptive solutions: (i) pre-chamber jet ignition and (ii) a two-stage rotary engine. These concepts overcome the traditional efficiency limitations and show that the Wankel rotary engine design can be further enhanced for its role as a range extender in electrified vehicles. Full article

The maritime industry is addressing environmental issues, and “cold ironing” offers a promising solution. This method involves supplying ships at port with energy, reducing fossil fuel dependence and emissions, and aiding in global climate change efforts. It is especially important for islands like Lesvos, which suffer from high energy costs and environmental issues due to imported fossil fuel reliance. However, research gaps exist in using renewable energy sources (RES) for cold ironing, mainly due to insufficient data on power needs and lack of monitoring for precise calculations and the very limited applications for the case of non-interconnected islands. This study uses real data from the port of Lesvos to evaluate power requirements for cold ironing and assesses the viability of a wind power park for an electrified port with the novelty and uniqueness of developing the application on a non-interconnected island. It also examines potential CO₂ emission reductions. Data from Marine Traffic S.A. were used, considering factors like ship arrivals, hoteling duration, and engine types. This study also includes a simulation using RETScreen software for a 20 MW wind park intended for port operations. The findings show that the monthly energy demand at Mytilene port is around 6118 MWh, with an average power demand of 8.2 MW. The simulated wind park could supply about 72,080 MWh yearly, with a significant surplus (14,956 MWh annually) exportable to the grid. However, demand fluctuations mean the port might need an extra 924 MWh from the main grid. This underscores the need for additional strategies like energy storage and demand–response practices to fully transition to 100% RES-powered operations. Full article

Partial electrification of hydraulic circuits to achieve energy savings requires an increase in the angular speed of the positive displacement pumps, with the risk of incomplete filling. In this context, the paper focuses on developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model using SimericsMP+ for two external gear pumps, namely helical and spur type gears. The objective of this study is the analysis of the phenomena occurring on the suction side under conditions of incomplete filling at high speeds. Both CFD models have been validated by conducting experimental tests for measuring the flow rate delivered at various inlet pressures and angular speeds. The experimental results confirm the model’s capability to accurately detect the operating conditions at which the delivered flow rate starts to decrease due to the partial filling of the inter-teeth chambers. Furthermore, this paper investigates the effects of certain geometrical modifications to the spur gear pump. Specifically, the influence of the gear’s width-to-diameter ratio is studied, revealing that a lower ratio leads to slightly better filling. Conversely, increasing the inlet port diameter results in no improvement. Based on this study, the modelling approach appears to be accurate enough to serve as design tool for optimizing pumps to improve their filling capability. Full article

The paper introduces a framework of operation of maritime-related enterprises like port authorities and ship-owning or operating companies along with electric energy providers in the electric energy market as a consequence of the global decarbonization effort and, in particular, due to the implementation of ship electrification at berth. Within this context, the main rules of this energy market framework will consist of a proper combination of power purchase agreements along with contracts for difference in an attempt to obtain transactions that are mutually beneficial at least on a mid-term basis. The methodology, which is fully compatible with the electric energy market rules of the European Union, is enriched by a variety of alternative scenarios on the selling prices of electricity, showing that even when monthly or annual periods are used for reference, it is highly possible that all parties engaged have benefits. Full article

Electric vehicles (EV) are now considered the present and future of road transportation to reduce the emission of CO₂ into the environment and thus progressively reduce global warming and climate change. However, EVs currently have some weaknesses such as the available range of battery-powered EVs and the recharging time of the batteries. To overcome these problems, some electrification projects have been proposed for road transportation such as the dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT), where an EV charges as it moves along an electrified lane using magneto-resonant coupling between short tracks mounted on the road pavement and the vehicle’s onboard pickup coils. While the results are encouraging from an electrical point of view, there is concern regarding the magnetic field in the environment produced by the DWPT coils, which can produce adverse health effects in humans and electromagnetic interference (EMI) in electronic devices. The latter also includes implantable medical devices (IMDs) and in particular cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), which may be present among vehicle passengers and pedestrians in areas surrounding the vehicle. The aim of this study is the numerical analysis of the EMI produced by a DWPT system in CIEDs with leads such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), etc. EMI is mainly produced by the incident magnetic field and the induced voltage at the input port of a CIED; therefore, in this work the magnetic field levels produced by a DWPT system operating at 85 kHz are calculated first, then the voltage at the input port of a pacemaker is evaluated as that produced by the magnetic field incident on the loop surface formed by a lead implanted in the venous system. According to ISO 14117 standard, it is assumed that the lead loop is planar, semicircular in shape and with an area equal to 225 cm². Since the lead can be placed anywhere where a human can be and with any orientation, an innovative and sophisticated roto-translation algorithm is proposed to find the maximum value of the peak-to-peak induced loop voltage in the most critical regions inside the vehicle cabin and beside the vehicle near the DWPT coils. The preliminary results obtained show that there is no EMI risk inside the vehicle for the passengers with CIEDs, while some concern for pedestrians is due to the induced voltage at the input port of a CIED with unipolar leads which can exceed the ISO 14117 limit in the region next to the vehicle. Full article

The microgrid concept has evolved from the humble origins of simple remote electrification applications in rural environments to complex architectures. Microgrids are key enablers to the integration of higher penetrations of renewables in the energy sector (including electricity, heating, cooling, transport and industry). In addition to the local energy sources, energy storage systems and loads, the modern microgrid encompasses sophisticated energy and power management systems, peer-to-peer energy markets and digital technologies to support this energy transition. The microgrid concept has recently been applied to all energy sectors, in order to develop solutions that address pressing issues related to climate change and the decarbonization of these important sectors. This paper initially reviews novel applications in which the microgrid concept is being applied, from a detailed analysis of recent literature. This consists of a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art in shipboard microgrids, port microgrids, aircraft microgrids, airport microgrids and space microgrids. Future research directions are then presented, based on the authors’ perspectives on pushing the boundaries of microgrids further. Full article

With the electrification of transport (BEVs) and the growing benefits of smart vehicles, there is a need for a simple solution to perform real-time monitoring of the BEV and its battery for diagnostics and coordinated charging. The On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) system, originally designed for internal combustion engine cars (ICE), can be used to extract the necessary BEV data. This paper presents a developed framework for a low-cost solution to online monitoring of BEVs. A Raspberry Pi Zero W, along with other auxiliary components, was installed in two Hyundai Ioniq Battery Electric cars to communicate with the vehicles via the OBD-II port. A python script was developed to periodically request the vehicle data by sending various Parameter IDs to the vehicles and storing the raw response data. A web server was created to process the hexadecimal encoded data and visualize the data on a dashboard. The key parameters, such as the battery state of health (SOH), state of charge (SOC), battery temperature, cell voltages and cumulative energy consumption, were successfully captured and recorded, which can now facilitate trending for battery diagnostics and future integration with smart chargers for coordinated charging. Full article