Partners to develop sustainable inland waterway routes
The two companies aim to lay the groundwork for a commercially sustainable ecosystem, one in which electric vessel operations can scale efficiently and zero-carbon inland shipping routes become a reality
(Source: Wah Kwong NatPower)
Wah Kwong NatPower and Chinese green energy company, Wuxing Ruituo, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to focus on the development of zero-carbon inland waterway shipping routes in China.
The partners believe that there is huge potential to decarbonise the inland water sector through the creation of a network of electric-vessel charging and battery-swapping facilities. Their plan is to integrate energy supply, digital services and operational systems into a single framework, starting in the Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou region of Zhejiang, a coastal province in eastern China.
The companies plan to deploy renewable energy infrastructure along major container and bulk cargo routes in ports, anchorages, and operational hubs. They also plan to launch a digital platform and carbon emission monitoring and certification systems.
Wah Kwong NatPower general manager, Vincent Ni, commented: “Electrification is the most direct route to decarbonising inland waterways, but it only works when energy infrastructure and vessel operations are developed together, not separately. Our partnership with Wuxing Ruituo allows us to combine international best practice with strong local execution capability, delivering a charging network that is efficient today and scalable tomorrow. We see this as a real-world model for the industry, starting in Huzhou and extending across wider international markets.”
