In the frame of the Green Deliriver project, SEGULA Technologies and GRDF pioneered the first hybrid electric/bioNG freight boat in the inland navigation sector. This ground-breaking project, initiated in 2018, aims to decarbonise the river shipping industry by utilizing the environmental advantages of bio-compressed natural gas (CNG), in line with circular economy principles for the Seine Axis.
The Green Deliriver project, supported by a consortium of 12 partners, including the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCNR), has obtained the first European authorisation for the use of bio-CNG as a primary source of fuel in inland waterway transport. This is a significant step in addressing the challenges of decarbonisation and improving air quality in river transport.
The local production of renewable fuel, biomethane, has widely acclaimed the use of bio-CNG by local authorities and transporters. It will be used in the river sector and have dedicated stations in Ile-de-France and throughout the country.
The Green Deliriver project started in 2018, aims to link the major logistics hubs of the Seine Axis, including the ports of Limay, Gennevilliers, Achères, and Bonneuil-sur-Marne, with the centre of Paris. The next project’s phase involves the construction of a new pusher with a hybrid electric/bio-CNG engine and a barge operational by 2025, with a view to servicing the 900 ships currently navigating the Seine Axis. By transporting goods to the heart of cities by river, this project reduces noise pollution, CO2 emissions by 85%, and fine particles by 98%, compared to combustion engines.
Bio-CNG is produced from the methanisation of waste collected along the Seine, demonstrating its capacity to address circular economy issues. The logistic capacity of 1,000 tonnes avoids about 40 lorries on the roads. The project received financial support from ADEME, VNF, the Ile-de-France Region, CITEPH, and the Banque des Territoires.
Source: SEGULA Technologies
