The HARPOONERS project will boost the decarbonization of ports through the total electrification of ships

HARPOONERS will develop an on-board energy storage system that will reduce CO2 emissions and its environmental impact
The initiative has a budget of nearly 7.5 million euros, co-financed by CINEA’s Horizon Europe program

Valencia, February 7, 2025. – Between yesterday and today was held in Brussels (Belgium) the kick-off meeting of the HARPOONERS ship electrification project ‘Achieving high voltage, low weight, efficient electric powertrains for sustainable waterborne transport’.

The initiative, led by the Tecnalia Research & Innovation Foundation and in which Fundación Valenciaport is participating, has a budget of around 7.5 million euros, co-financed by the Horizon Europe program of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

The ultimate goal of the project is to promote the decarbonization of the sector through the electrification of ships, improving their competitiveness and optimizing energy storage systems in terms of weight, operational reliability and safety.

To this end, HARPOONERS will develop a compact modular system that will interconnect high-voltage grids on board, eliminating the need for transformers and cooling systems on ships.

The initiative will therefore create a lighter, more reliable and safer energy storage system that will facilitate the total electrification of small and medium-sized vessels, reducing CO2 emissions and their environmental impact, as well as manufacturing and maintenance costs.

As a member of the consortium, Fundación Valenciaport will provide support in defining the requirements and specifications of the system, including a study in the Port of Valencia. In addition, it will collaborate in the integration of the HARPOONERS solution in the different types of vessels, contributing to the validation of its functionality, reliability and safety.

HARPOONERS consortium

The HARPOONERS project involves the participation of 13 European entities: the Tecnalia Research & Innovation Foundation, the Valenciaport Foundation, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Opleidingscentrum voor Hout en Bouw (OHB), Corvus Energy Norway, Elkon Elektrik, Power Electronics España, Lloyd’s Register EMEA, Grimaldi Euromed SpA, Inlecom Group, the Foro Marítimo Vasco and Lalemant.