The SEANERGY Conference, held on October 24, 2024, at the Marina Convention Center in Palermo, Italy, successfully brought together industry leaders, academic experts, and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge energy transition technologies for ports and maritime shipping. This high-impact event provided a collaborative platform focused on sharing project progress, showcasing technological innovations, and exploring future strategies for maritime decarbonization.
The conference opened with a welcome session led by representatives from the Port Authority and the SEANERGY Project Manager, setting the stage for a day packed with insightful presentations and interactive discussions
Key Highlights and Sessions
The event’s core agenda centered around the presentation of the SEANERGY Master Plan, featuring expert contributions from MAGELLAN CIRCLE, RINA, and FUNDACION VALENCIAPORT. These presentations addressed innovative technologies for port decarbonization and shared tools for sustainable energy management, providing practical insights into reducing maritime carbon emissions.
The Industry Academic Programme session, chaired by Alexio Picco, spotlighted collaborative projects and research outcomes from the SEANERGY Summer School, presented by ATPERSON’s and FAIMM’s. This session underscored the value of combining academic research with industry-driven initiatives to create scalable solutions for energy transition in maritime operations.
Two technical sessions further explored emerging technologies. The first session introduced decarbonization tools for shipping, including the Blue Barge Offshore Power System and zero-emission vessel design concepts, presented by ECOSPRAY , MAGELLAN CIRCLE, and FPS . The second session focused on biogas production from ship and port wastewater, led by IHE Delft, and photovoltaic energy systems for maritime applications, presented by SOLARINBLUE.
Networking and Collaboration
The day concluded with a networking cocktail reception, providing attendees with the opportunity to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and discuss collaborative projects aimed at advancing maritime sustainability.
Key Takeaways
The SEANERGY Conference in Palermo demonstrated how academic research, technological innovation, and policy recommendations can be integrated to create actionable strategies for zero-emission port operations. With the SEANERGY Master Plan as a guiding framework, the project continues to support the European Union’s Horizon Europe goals for sustainable ports and shipping. This collaborative effort encourages all stakeholders to adopt innovative technologies, drive policy changes, and work toward reducing maritime carbon emissions on a global scale.