SYNERGETICS – Synergies for Green Transformation of Inland and Coastal Shipping – the innovation project funded under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme – has successfully completed its work on creating synergies for inland and coastal shipping after 42 months. The occasion was celebrated both on board the viadonau push boat Bad Deutsch-Altenburg and at Techgate as part of a closing event on 10 June 2026.
The SYNERGETICS consortium in front of the push boat Bad Deutsch-Altenburg at the closing event organised by viadonau on 10 June 2026, photo: © viadonau
The project focused on improving the environmental performance of inland and coastal shipping through retrofitting. Within SYNERGETICS, various solutions for reducing emissions were developed, some of which were also tested under real operating conditions. The primary aim was to meet the European Union’s environmental targets whilst maintaining the economic competitiveness of inland and coastal shipping fleets.
Although numerous initiatives already exist to promote more environmentally friendly shipping, these often operate in isolation from one another and without effective coordination. SYNERGETICS successfully overcame this challenge by linking knowledge, technologies and expertise across different sectors and European regions. This fostered an integrated and collaborative approach to sustainable shipping and was achieved through collaboration between research institutions, innovation centres, shipping companies, shipyards, technology providers, regulatory authorities and industry associations.
The key findings regarding the reduction in fuel consumption and emissions:
- Hydrodynamic optimisation measures revealed an energy-saving potential of 15–35 per cent. In some cases, even greater savings can be expected.
- The conversion to hydrogen dual-fuel engines significantly reduced diesel consumption and particulate emissions.
- Methanol-based propulsion systems proved to be a promising low-emission solution for inland waterway transport, but they still need further development in terms of the availability of suitable engines and regulations for practical implementation.
As alternatives to conventional diesel propulsion systems, various innovative technologies were investigated and demonstrated in the project, including: battery-electric propulsion systems, hydrogen dual-fuel engines, methanol-powered propulsion systems, hybrid propulsion concepts and digital optimisation technologies to increase operational efficiency.
A key finding of SYNERGETICS is that retrofitting existing vessels often represents a significantly more cost-effective route to decarbonisation than completely replacing fleets with newbuilds, whilst still delivering considerable environmental benefits. SYNERGETICS has demonstrated that green shipping technologies are ready for practical use by testing them on modernised vessels under real operating conditions.
The demonstration projects:
- the conversion of a Volvo Penta engine to hydrogen dual-fuel operation,
- the methanol-powered Danube pusher tug ‘Bad Deutsch-Altenburg’ operated by viadonau,
- the hydrodynamically optimised cargo ship ‘Ernst Kramer’, and
- the use of modular battery systems from ZES – Zero Emission Services.
To support the widespread adoption of the innovations developed and consolidated, the project has developed a range of practical tools for inland and coastal shipping. The Catalogue of Greening Solutions provides an overview of potential environmentally friendly technologies, including their level of maturity, costs and the required infrastructure. The Shipowners’ Handbook provides practical information on implementation, operational implications and approval procedures.
Furthermore, the Decision Support Tool helps shipowners to identify suitable modernisation measures and make informed investment decisions based on the characteristics of their vessels. In addition, forward-looking scenarios have been developed to support political and industrial decision-making processes and to accelerate the introduction of sustainable retrofitting solutions. These tools are available free of charge and will continue to be maintained via the project website and remain accessible under ‘Tools’ even after the project has ended: https://www.synergetics-project.eu/.
