How we're electrifying boating

Who would dare to invest in electric boats when there is no charging infrastructure—and who would dare to build charging infrastructure when there are still so few electric boats? These are the questions that have been at the forefront of recent efforts to accelerate the electrification of recreational boating around the Skagerrak.

What began as a shared ambition grew into the go:LEIF project—a cross-border collaboration between ports, municipalities, the business community, and innovation stakeholders in Sweden and Norway. Now that the project has concluded, there are concrete results, guidance documents, and final reports that show how the next steps in the transition can be taken.

There is considerable interest in the findings, particularly in the guidance document aimed at ports and municipalities.

“We’re seeing a lot of interest in our experiences, particularly from stakeholders in Germany, the Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark, and Norway, but also from new contacts here in Sweden. Many are facing the same challenges regarding charging infrastructure and investments and need concrete advice on how to proceed; that’s where we see our results making a difference,” says Peter Berg, project manager atInnovatum Science Park.

It is clear that the electrification of recreational boating is still in its early stages. For this transition to gain momentum, we need new knowledge, more collaboration, and a better understanding of how electric boats and charging infrastructure can be developed in tandem.

“The guidance document shows that it’s possible to get started without major investments. The important thing is to take the first step,” says Peter Berg.

Tangible results in the ports

The project’s partner ports have played a key role as testing and development environments. By installing charging solutions, providing testing sites, and collaborating with technology providers, the ports have served as practical venues for testing and evaluation.

Today, ports in Gothenburg, Lysekil, Arendal, and other locations can offer charging facilities to their visitors, while the experience gained from this work has provided valuable insights to other ports looking to embark on their own electrification journey.

• 220 charging points at ports along the Skagerrak
• Fast chargers in Marstrand and Lysekil
• Test of combined charging for boats and cars

Knowledge that drives change

The project has also worked to disseminate knowledge through webinars, workshops, and boat shows. A digital charging map for electric boats has been developed, as well as a market overview of electric boats and electric powertrains in the Nordic region.

“Our website, elbat.org, has been an important tool for spreading awareness and demonstrating that electric boats are a viable alternative. For electric boat owners who want to embark on longer trips, the charging map helps them locate actual charging stations,” says Maria Olsson, project manager at Innovatum Science Park.

The floating electric boat exhibition "Enjoy the Silence" in Gothenburg served as a clear example of how this technology can be experienced in practice.

“We wanted to generate interest in the transition and showcase the possibilities of electrification at sea. The trade show combined a public experience with a professional conference on the electrification of recreational and commercial vessels, attended by stakeholders from across the value chain,” says Peter Berg.

Electric power – a clear environmental benefit

One of the reasons behind the project is the fact that there are over one million recreational boats in the Skagerrak region, most of which run on fossil fuels. Total carbon dioxide emissions in Sweden and Norway are estimated at over 400,000 tons per year, in addition to emissions of oil and other environmentally harmful substances that negatively impact the marine environment.

“Significant environmental benefits can be achieved by phasing out internal combustion engines. Electric boats eliminate exhaust emissions and the spillage of fuel and oil directly into the marine environment, which makes a big difference for both the climate and the oceans,” says Peter Berg.

A conclusion that looks to the future

After three years, the project has now officially come to an end—but its results live on.

The next step involves investing in charging infrastructure with higher charging power, which will require collaboration among multiple stakeholders regarding both investment and usage. If charging equipment can be shared among different types of ships at sea and vehicles on land, as well as between commercial operators and private individuals, the economic prospects for electrification would improve significantly. This would also entail the development of local energy systems in coastal areas to enhance resilience and energy security.

- "We at Innovatum Science Park are currently working on a new project that addresses this issue and builds on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from the go:LEIF project," Peter concludes

*The following organizations participated in the go:LEIF project: Agder County Council, Arendal Municipality, Business Region Göteborg, the Lydløs Association, the Fyrbodal Municipal Association, Grefab, the Gothenburg Region, Kungälv Energi, Kungälv Municipality, Lysekil Municipality, LEVA in Lysekil, RISE, and USN University of South-Eastern Norway.
Funded by Interreg ÖKS and the Västra Götaland Region