The public-private R&D project «Fisterra» moves forward in its first year with key milestones in the design, manufacture and digitalisation of a converter that will reduce maritime transport emissions

• NORVENTO, the Galician Automotive Technology Centre and the University of Vigo have joined forces in Fisterra to develop a power electronics converter that will drastically reduce the consumption of fossil fuels during the arrival, docking and departure of ships at seaports.

• In this first year of the project, with a time horizon of 2026, the technical requirements of the converter have been defined, and work is being carried out to create a digital twin and implement augmented reality tools to simplify manufacturing.

• Fisterra is provided with more than two and a half million euros, of which the Galician Innovation Agency of the Xunta de Galicia, in an initiative co-financed by the EU, contributes 60%.

Norvento, the Galician Automotive Technology Centre (CTAG) and the University of Vigo’s Applied Power Electronics Technology research group have completed the first year of the Fisterra (Fábrica Intelixente e Sustentable mediante Electrónica de Potencia Avanzada e Realidade Aumentada) research project, which was presented in 2024 and has a time horizon of 2026. These first milestones include the key aspects of a power electronics converter, the creation of a digital twin and the implementation of augmented reality tools to simplify manufacturing. 

Fisterra aims to create a power electronics converter that will drastically reduce the consumption of fossil fuels in ships during their arrival, docking and departure from ports. With this commitment to innovation, Galician work teams will provide a solution to the challenge of decarbonising maritime transport. This is a matter of great importance, as 80% of cargo transport takes place by sea and represents 15% of annual Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions and 13% of Sulphur Oxide (SOx) emissions.

This Galician public-private R&D collaboration project is provided with 2.659.287,76 euros. The Galician Innovation Agency of the Xunta de Galicia finances a 60% in an initiative co-financed by the European Union.

THE FIRST MILESTONES OF THE PROJECT

During this initial phase, the working teams of the three entities involved have succeeded in defining the fundamental aspects of the converter, optimising its design and laying the foundations for its future industrial-scale manufacture.

• Modularity to adapt to different production volumes.
• Scalability with optimised processes to increase production capacity.
• Traceability for detailed monitoring of all stages of manufacturing.
• Digitalisation with advanced tools such as digital twins and augmented reality.

Norvento Tecnología’s work has focused on analysing different power electronics topologies to identify the best solution for powering ships in port. In addition, synergies with other sectors have been explored in order to diversify the application. Simultaneously, the control and communication system between the converter and the ships has been optimised, providing the necessary requirements for the next step: a detailed design and simulation of the system’s behaviour.

Also, Norvento nED Factory is making progress in transforming its manufacturing process from a low-volume semi-industrial model to a high-volume industrial model. Advanced manufacturing methodologies have been implemented to ensure scalability, traceability, flexibility and digitalisation, and augmented reality assembly instructions have been developed to improve workers’ efficiency in assembly and testing tasks.

CTAG has worked to build a digital twin that simulates workflows and integrates warehouses, workers and assembly, allowing the production process to be optimised before it is physically implemented. It has also developed a parametric augmented reality system that will facilitate the integration of less experienced personnel into the manufacturing process, improving learning and reducing errors.

For its part, the team from the University of Vigo (UVigo) has made progress in the design of the converter’s control strategy based on initial specifications and previous experience in similar systems as well as a review of the competition.

NEXT STEPS OF FISTERRA

With these advances, the Fisterra project continues to consolidate itself as an innovative solution for the sustainability of the maritime sector. Over the coming months, the work teams will continue to validate the design and manufacture of the first prototypes of the converter, with the objective of reducing significantly the consumption of fossil fuels in ports and contributing to the energy transition. It is expected to be presented at a public event in mid-2025.