With less than four months remaining until the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, HAROPA PORT and France’s national waterways authority (Voies navigables de France – VNF) are leading the charge in the energy transition of the river fleet.
This transformation comes as the Paris Games mark a historic first, being held on water.
Committed to energy transition for several years, all stakeholders are intensifying efforts to ensure that river fleets become greener, with a focus on accelerating the adoption of cleaner propulsion systems and a quayside electrification program.
The energy transition in the river fleet is gaining momentum, especially as the majority of recreational craft are set to run on electricity.
HAROPA PORT and VNF are at the forefront of this transition, working tirelessly to green the river fleet.
An ambitious goal has been set for 2024 to accelerate the energy transition across the entire river fleet. During the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games opening ceremony, nearly 30 craft will be equipped with electric or hybrid ICE/electric propulsion systems.
This milestone is supported by a Modernisation and Innovation Aid Programme (PAMI) with an increased budget of €5 million from France’s central government.
The Paris fleet, consisting of over a hundred commercial vessels, will see 20 engine retrofit projects and the construction of 11 new craft by 2024.
These projects represent an overall investment of over €38 million (AU$62 million), averaging €1.2 million (AU$1.9 million) per vessel, or 120 per cent of the base value.
The electrification of Seine basin docks is a major focus, with 44 electricity terminals already installed on docks under HAROPA PORT and VNF management, eliminating 4,300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
By the end of 2024, 82 additional terminals will be provided, with a total investment of €9.2 million (AU$15 million).
HAROPA PORT has implemented a support program for its customers, allowing passenger craft to obtain extensions to their occupancy agreements by committing to switching to hybrid or 100 per cent electric propulsion.
VNF assists in funding the transition through the Modernisation and Innovation Aid Plan (PAMI), leading to an increase in fleet environmental performance.
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are catalysing the energy transition of the river fleet, driving the adoption of cleaner propulsion systems and quayside electrification.
This collective effort is not only transforming the river transport sector but also setting a new standard for sustainability in Europe.
