A literature review by ECN researchers concludes that there are a number of effective options for reducing CO₂ emissions and costs for freight transport by trucks and inland shipping. A 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions for inland shipping and a 15% reduction for road transport are considered realistic. CO₂ emissions in traffic need to be reduced.

One way of doing this is through more efficient fuel consumption in freight transport. In the context of a broader assignment by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, ECN published the report Kostenefficiëntie van (technische) opties voor zuiniger vrachtverkeer (Cost efficiency of (technical) options for more efficient freight transport). The report provides an overview of options for reducing emissions on the basis of a literature review. Virtually all freight transport by road and inland waterways uses diesel. As transport costs are largely determined by fuel costs, the transport market is open to fuel-saving measures provided that the associated investments are recouped quickly enough. Sander Lensink: “There is some uncertainty in our assessment of the expected market success of energy-saving options, e.g. because practice may already have caught up with the literature. The limited profit margins and the major role of fuel costs in operational expenses mean that cost-effective improvements are sometimes implemented in the sector more quickly than expected.”

These autonomous efficiency developments were taken into account in the report as much as possible. There are three different efficiency categories.
The first category, volume and structure options, is not included in the report. The second category concerns logistics and strategic options. “To put it simply: how can more goods be transported with fewer vehicles?”
The third category concerns the operational and technological options that reduce the emissions per kilometre. An example is switching to a fuel that has benefits in terms of energy and CO₂ emissions. For passenger cars this was the switch from petrol to diesel. For freight transport this could now be the switch from diesel to other fuels that are more efficient, burn cleaner or lead to a reduction in CO₂ emissions. Natural gas and biofuels have some of these benefits. In addition, energy can be saved by changing behaviour. Just as motorists raise their foot from the accelerator as they approach a red light, the inland shipping trade can take lock opening times into account. Combining this with knowledge about the rate of flow and water depth, the most efficient speed can be chosen for each part of the route, so that the total route can be navigated in the same amount of time using less energy.

The practical situation can interfere with the realisation of cost-effective efficiency measures. Hein de Wilde provides an example: “In absolute terms the investment costs are low. New technologies often only cause a small increase in the purchase price. According to standard practice in the transport sector, an energy-saving investment must be recouped in three years or less by savings on fuel costs. The return time of the most studied options is approximately three years or more. Therefore the economic incentive to invest in efficient technologies is often limited, although considerable savings in energy can be achieved without notable additional costs.” In spite of these hindrances, a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions is thought to be feasible in the medium term.

The report “Kostenefficientie van (technische) opties voor zuiniger vrachtverkeer” by ECN researchers Sander Lensink and Hein de Wilde can be found here.

Contact:
Sander Lensink.
ECN Policy Studies
Telephone: +31 (0)224 – 568129
Email: lensink@remove-this-part-ecn.nl