Pathways for Decarbonizing the Transportation Sector: Research Activities and Future Perspectives

The transportation sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions and remarkable energy consumptions, necessitating urgent and innovative strategies for decarbonization. This presentation will outline future perspectives, identifying emerging trends and solutions that promise to accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation. Pathways towards achieving a low-carbon transportation future across railways, electric vehicles, and maritime sectors will be explored by exploiting the binomial relationships between these transportation systems and their respective hubs, such as the nexus of ships and ports, trains and railway stations, and vehicles and buildings, underscoring the pivotal role of individuals in driving consumption. These pathways will be directed towards the development of renewable and sustainable energy clusters, encompassing ports, stations, airports, and buildings. The presentation will showcase the current state of research on mobility sustainability, detailing the methods used and discussing future perspectives. It will delve into current research activities focused on technological advancements, modeling and optimization approaches for retrofitting and designing energy-efficient transportation systems and their hubs. Key innovative technological solutions and management techniques investigated in relevant case studies and scenarios will be highlighted. Emphasis will be placed on the optimal design, operation, and development of energy-efficient transportation and infrastructure combinations to enhance energy efficiency and flexibility, and to reduce pollutant emissions. From this perspective, the role of innovative technologies, renewable energy sources, and alternative fuels, along with simulation modeling activities for assessing and optimizing their energy and economic impacts will be stressed. The aim is to provide a comprehensive roadmap for stakeholders committed to sustainable transportation and climate change mitigation. Finally, recommendations will be offered for researchers and policy makers dedicated to driving forward sustainable transportation initiatives.