WMU Contributes to SEANERGY Project
The kick off meeting for the EU-funded Horizon 2021 research project, Sustainability EducationAl programme for greeNER fuels and enerGY on ports (SEANERGY), took place virtually on 7 October. SEANERGY is an initiative financed by the European Union (EU), within the framework of the research and innovation programme Horizon Europe.
The kickoff meeting provided an introduction to the partners as well as the actions to be undertaken in four main stages of the project that consists of six work packages. For the next 30 months, the World Maritime University (WMU), in addition to the 11 European partners, will cooperate to achieve the project goal of developing a Master Plan to help achieve zero-emission ports by 2050. This will provide solutions to port energy transition challenges. The master plan will be an aggregator of information and is intended that guidelines are developed which will allow all the port-industry’s stakeholders, regardless of their geographical context, to assess, plan and execute the necessary activities towards transforming ports into clean energy hubs.
WMU will lead Work Package 2, “Understanding the current EU ports’ situation and stakeholders,” which involves identification and analysis of the needs, barriers and know-how of stakeholders who are involved in the port energy transition. Additionally, WMU will contribute to the other three main stages of the project by supporting activities which will include a survey, an analysis, educational programmes and workshops.
At the kickoff meeting, WMU Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator for the project, Dr. Fabio Ballini, made a presentation on WMU’s research activities and the actions that will be carried out during the project by WMU, which will include implementation activities. In addition to WMU, the project partners include Magellan Circle, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, RINA, Fundación Valenciaport, Ennshafen OÖ GmbH, The Diktyo, SL Δίκτυο ΔΑΦΝΗ / DAFNI Network, Future Proof Shipping, Eco Imagination, ATPERSON, ZER0-E Engineering, and Anleg GmbH.
In addition to Dr. Ballini, WMU faculty and research staff contributing to the project include Dr. Aykut I. Ölçer, Professor and Director of Maritime Research, Dr. Monica Canepa, Project Officer, and Research Assistants Anas Alamoush and Peyman Masodzadeh.
Participation in the project supports WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 focused on inclusive and equitable quality education for all, Goal 7 focused on ensuring access to renewable energy, Goal 9 focused on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation, and Goal 13 focused on climate actions to combat climate change.
WMU’s maritime research agenda is also further strengthened by contributing to the SEANERGY project, in particular, the Research Priority Areas of Maritime Energy Management, Maritime and Marine Technology and Innovation, and Environmental Impact of Maritime Activities.