A LOOK BACK AT THE SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY CLUB IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AFBE
How can we accelerate the decarbonisation of marinas and the maritime activities taking place there? A regional overview, support for marinas, feedback from a shipowner, research findings and insights from the field: the latest Sustainable Mobility Club meeting reviewed both the drivers and the barriers to port electrification.
With over 140 marinas and 60,000 berths, the South region is France’s leading region for recreational boating. And the regulations are tightening: since 2022, the Mobility Framework Act has required marinas with more than 100 berths to reserve at least 1 % of their berths for electric boats. The challenge now is to turn this ambition into reality, given that most port electricity networks were not designed with these new uses in mind.
It is to take stock of these issues that Capenergies and the’AFBE (French Association for Electric Boats) brought together nearly 30 stakeholders from the sector (ports, shipowners, energy companies, network operators, researchers and innovative businesses) for an online event during the latest Sustainable Mobility Club meeting. It was a morning packed with insights and experiences; here are the highlights.
A SNAPSHOT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE’RE STARTING FROM
L'UPACA, the Union of Marinas of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, began by providing an overview of the transition taking place in the region’s marinas, which is useful for assessing the progress made and the needs of marina operators. HY-Plug went on to demonstrate, using the specific example of a port being supported in its electrification, that the process is not simply a matter of installing charging points: it begins with an analysis of usage patterns and available electrical capacity, in order to develop a phased approach tailored to each site.
GREEN BOATS: WHEN ELECTRIC POWER TAKES TO THE SEAS
A pioneer in the sector, the company The Green Boats has been committed to a transition since 2020. Following a phase of research and initial fuel-saving measures (reduced speeds, eco-driving, adjusted timetables), it took the plunge by retrofitting two ferries in its fleet, the Espadon III and the Gipsy XIV: their internal combustion engines have been replaced by 100% electric propulsion. This initiative is all the more significant as it gives existing vessels a new lease of life; they now sail silently and without discharging any emissions into the sea. The result: 570 tonnes of CO₂ avoided during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
The company also highlighted the key role played by its collaboration with the Port of Saint-Tropez. Accommodating these vessels does indeed require adapting the quays, connections and the organisation of port calls, which is a crucial prerequisite for continuing the electrification of its fleet.
BATTERY OR HYDROGEN? IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE ELECTRICITY
L'ENSAM from Aix-en-Provence (LISPEN laboratory) has provided scientific insight by addressing the following question: to what extent does an electric-hydrogen propulsion system help to reduce the environmental impact of ships throughout their entire life cycle? To answer this, they sought the best possible energy architecture for a hybrid vessel combining a hydrogen fuel cell and batteries, assessing it against a range of environmental criteria. Their initial findings speak for themselves: with an electricity mix as low-carbon as France’s, the battery remains the most suitable solution. Hydrogen helps to reduce metal consumption, but at the cost of a higher carbon footprint. Decarbonising the maritime sector is therefore, above all, a matter of trade-offs.
ROUND TABLE: FROM AMBITIONS TO REALITIES ON THE GROUND
To round off the morning, the AFBE, the Port of Toulon and Enedis have set decarbonisation ambitions against the realities on the ground. The discussions first highlighted obstacles that remain very real, whether economic, technical or regulatory: the cost of infrastructure for ports with limited resources, the need to plan for connection capacity in advance, charging requirements that vary greatly from one use case to another, and a regulatory framework in need of adaptation. To overcome these, several avenues emerged: planning electricity infrastructure needs well in advance with the network operator; tailoring charging to each specific use, from pleasure craft to passenger ferries; and integrating ports into a broader energy strategy. The speakers also called for a pragmatic, multi-energy approach, better coordination between stakeholders, and the development of demonstration projects to support the transition to full-scale implementation.
One thing has become clear from these discussions: solutions are already in place, but their large-scale roll-out will require collective action to remove these barriers.
Thank you to all the speakers and participants for the high standard of these discussions!
See you at the next Sustainable Mobility Club meeting!
Would you like to speak at an upcoming mobility club meeting?
Your Capenergies contact :
Océane Florentin
Project Engineer – Sustainable Mobility, Circular Economy
– GARDEN
oceane.florentin@capenergies.fr
+33 6 73 48 36 46