The project
Programme objective 2.1: Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The main objective of WISTAR is to significantly enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in the transport sector of NWE regions with dense urban-rural linkages (in FR, BE, DE).
An implementable concept of an intermodal transportation chain with an inland waterway backbone with shallow water ships, based on renewable energy will be elaborated. By the end of the project, we will establish a working group with all relevant stakeholders for a further continuation implementation project.
Number of partners: 6
Duration: 2024 - 2025
Project co-funded by the European Union (Interreg Noth-west Europe program)
Our results
The WISTAR project assessed the environmental and economic performance of a logistics solution based on small electric vessels, using the Caen metropolitan area as a case study.
The scenario focused on transporting seafood products from Ouistreham to Caen city centre via the Caen Canal, with deliveries to restaurants along the route and last-mile distribution by cargo bike.
The study confirmed the benefits of consolidating freight flows on electric barges rather than relying on individual deliveries using diesel vans. For a restaurant, this model can reduce transport-related emissions by up to a factor of 20, with even greater benefits when adopted collectively by multiple stakeholders. The results also demonstrated the economic viability of the model and provided a roadmap for its further optimisation.
