Greece's big "bet": Connecting renewable sources with maritime transport

• Interview with Christina Kousouni

Electricity in shipping is developing rapidly, recording an annual increase of 21% and opening a new path for cleaner, more efficient and quieter maritime transport.

The big bet for Greece, according to Giorgos Vallis, President of the Panhellenic Union of Private & Professional Yacht Crews (PEPIETH) and PhD in Maritime Risk and Crisis Management, is to connect its enormous wealth in renewable sources with its maritime transport.

In an interview with Tornos News, Mr. Vallis analyzes how electromobility is changing the map of shipbuilding and coastal shipping, what are the biggest obstacles for the Greek market, and why our country can gain a leading position in “green” shipping in the Mediterranean.

The full text of the interview is as follows:

• Electromobility is showing an annual growth rate of 21% in shipping. What does this mean for the future of shipbuilding and short-distance transport?

A growth rate of 21% shows that the market for electric ships is in a phase of explosive growth. This implies that the shipbuilding industry will turn to new design solutions, with ships specially adapted to electrical systems and large-capacity batteries. In short-distance transport, especially on coastal shipping lines in island regions, electric propulsion can offer more economical operation, less noise and almost zero emissions.

• How critical is the development of port infrastructure for the electrification of ships? And how is the environmental benefit linked to the source of electricity?

The modernization of ports with modern chargers is absolutely necessary for us to truly move into the era of electric propulsion. Connecting ships to the grid means that generators in the port stop operating, so there is no more exhaust gases, pollutants, fuel consumption, noise and sound pollution. This is of enormous importance for the cities that live next to the ports, but also for the image of the country in terms of tourism and quality of life. With the introduction of electric propulsion, pollutants cease to exist and this has a positive impact on our marine environment.

• What are the main obstacles holding back the transition to electric mobility in Greek coastal shipping? What is currently lacking in terms of institutional framework and incentives?

The main obstacles are the high initial cost of building electric ships, the lack of a charging network in ports, as well as limitations on battery autonomy. At the institutional level, a stable and long-term incentive framework is missing: subsidies for new shipbuilding or retrofitting, tax benefits for investments in "green" ships, but also regulations that encourage port authorities to invest in electric infrastructure.

• There are company commitments for a fully electric fleet by 2040. Does it show intention, but is it a realistic timetable based on current data?

2040 as a target shows ambition and strategic intention, but with current data it is difficult to consider it completely realistic. Technology is evolving, but significant progress is needed in factors such as energy density and battery life. At the same time, huge investments are required in ports and power supply networks. It is more likely that we will see a gradual transition, first with hybrid schemes and partial implementation by ship category. I believe that by 2040 a similar adjustment will have been made to the data at hand.

• Electromobility in shipping is closely linked to the general energy transition. What is the big bet for Greece?

The big bet for Greece is to connect its enormous wealth in renewable sources with its maritime transport. If we manage to power electromobility with clean energy, the country can become a model of green shipping in the Mediterranean and upgrade its international image. It is an opportunity not only to reduce emissions, but also to gain a new competitive advantage in tourism, coastal shipping and the shipbuilding industry.