Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports: Insights From the MAGPIE Project

Michele Acciaro; Caya Hein; Maaike Dahlhuisen; Maarten Flikkema

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-89444-2_58

Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports: Insights From the MAGPIE Project

Michele Acciaro^*, Caya Hein, Maaike Dahlhuisen, Maarten Flikkema

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Strategy and Innovation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This paper investigates the significance of ports in the energy transition (ET) and decarbonisation. Ports, being vital in energy value chains, play a critical role in curbing energy use and emissions. The paper draws from the MAGPIE project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, which showcases energy and digital solutions in a real-world setting. The paper focuses on sustainable initiatives in 12 European sea- and inland- ports, analysed through interviews and secondary data. Findings reveal that while many ports discuss ET, few have transformed their plans into significant actions due to technological, regulatory, and financial
challenges. Three core themes emerge from the review: ET infrastructure, seagoing ships and hinterland transport, and governance. Ports need more actionable strategies for ET, with port authorities spearheading the adoption of sustainable technologies through collaboration.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility : Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems
Editors	Ciaran McNally, Páraic Carroll, Beatriz Martinez-Pastor, Bidisha Ghosh, Marina Efthymiou, Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos
Volume	3
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Publication date	2025
Pages	401-407
ISBN (Print)	9783031894435
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031894442
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-89444-2_58
Publication status	Published - 2025
Event	10th Transport Research Arena (TRA): Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility - Dublin, Ireland Duration: 15 Apr 2024 → 18 Apr 2024 Conference number: 10 https://traconference.eu/

Conference

Conference	10th Transport Research Arena (TRA)
Number	10
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Dublin
Period	15/04/2024 → 18/04/2024
Internet address	https://traconference.eu/

Series	Lecture Notes in Mobility
ISSN	2196-5544

Keywords

Energy transition
Ports
MAGPIE Project
Alternative fuels
Green ports
Decarbonisation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

Acciaro, M., Hein, C., Dahlhuisen, M., & Flikkema, M. (2025). Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports: Insights From the MAGPIE Project. In C. McNally, P. Carroll, B. Martinez-Pastor, B. Ghosh, M. Efthymiou, & N. Valantasis-Kanellos (Eds.), Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems (Vol. 3, pp. 401-407). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-89444-2_58

Acciaro, Michele ; Hein, Caya ; Dahlhuisen, Maaike et al. / Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports : Insights From the MAGPIE Project. Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems. editor / Ciaran McNally ; Páraic Carroll ; Beatriz Martinez-Pastor ; Bidisha Ghosh ; Marina Efthymiou ; Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos. Vol. 3 Cham : Springer, 2025. pp. 401-407 (Lecture Notes in Mobility).

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Acciaro, M, Hein, C, Dahlhuisen, M & Flikkema, M 2025, Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports: Insights From the MAGPIE Project. in C McNally, P Carroll, B Martinez-Pastor, B Ghosh, M Efthymiou & N Valantasis-Kanellos (eds), Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems. vol. 3, Springer, Cham, Lecture Notes in Mobility, pp. 401-407, 10th Transport Research Arena (TRA), Dublin, Ireland, 15/04/2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-89444-2_58

Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports: Insights From the MAGPIE Project. / Acciaro, Michele; Hein, Caya; Dahlhuisen, Maaike et al.
Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems. ed. / Ciaran McNally; Páraic Carroll; Beatriz Martinez-Pastor; Bidisha Ghosh; Marina Efthymiou; Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos. Vol. 3 Cham: Springer, 2025. p. 401-407 (Lecture Notes in Mobility).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

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T1 - Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports

T2 - 10th Transport Research Arena (TRA)

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AU - Hein, Caya

AU - Dahlhuisen, Maaike

AU - Flikkema, Maarten

N1 - Conference code: 10

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - This paper investigates the significance of ports in the energy transition (ET) and decarbonisation. Ports, being vital in energy value chains, play a critical role in curbing energy use and emissions. The paper draws from the MAGPIE project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, which showcases energy and digital solutions in a real-world setting. The paper focuses on sustainable initiatives in 12 European sea- and inland- ports, analysed through interviews and secondary data. Findings reveal that while many ports discuss ET, few have transformed their plans into significant actions due to technological, regulatory, and financial challenges. Three core themes emerge from the review: ET infrastructure, seagoing ships and hinterland transport, and governance. Ports need more actionable strategies for ET, with port authorities spearheading the adoption of sustainable technologies through collaboration.

AB - This paper investigates the significance of ports in the energy transition (ET) and decarbonisation. Ports, being vital in energy value chains, play a critical role in curbing energy use and emissions. The paper draws from the MAGPIE project, funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, which showcases energy and digital solutions in a real-world setting. The paper focuses on sustainable initiatives in 12 European sea- and inland- ports, analysed through interviews and secondary data. Findings reveal that while many ports discuss ET, few have transformed their plans into significant actions due to technological, regulatory, and financial challenges. Three core themes emerge from the review: ET infrastructure, seagoing ships and hinterland transport, and governance. Ports need more actionable strategies for ET, with port authorities spearheading the adoption of sustainable technologies through collaboration.

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KW - Alternative fuels

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PB - Springer

CY - Cham

Y2 - 15 April 2024 through 18 April 2024

ER -

Acciaro M, Hein C, Dahlhuisen M, Flikkema M. Sustainable and Greenhouse-Gas-Neutral Initiatives Within European Ports: Insights From the MAGPIE Project. In McNally C, Carroll P, Martinez-Pastor B, Ghosh B, Efthymiou M, Valantasis-Kanellos N, editors, Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 3: Eco-efficient Mobility Systems. Vol. 3. Cham: Springer. 2025. p. 401-407. (Lecture Notes in Mobility). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-89444-2_58