TwinPort: Digital Twins for Integrated Port Infrastructure, Energy, and Vessels

Ports are central to global trade; however, they face growing pressure to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and respond to evolving operational demands. As Europe moves toward a cleaner and more sustainable maritime sector, ports must shift from fragmented management approaches to more integrated and data-driven solutions to achieve this goal. TwinPort is a research and innovation project that addresses this challenge by developing a digital twin approach tailored to modern port operations.

Coordinated by the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Malta, TwinPort focuses on creating a unified digital platform that integrates data from port infrastructure, energy systems, and vessels into a virtual environment. This digital representation enables a clearer understanding of port operations and supports informed decision-making by allowing operators to monitor activities, assess system behavior, and explore various operational options.

A key objective of TwinPort is to support cleaner and more efficient energy use in ports. With the increasing electrification of port activities, including shore-side power supplies for vessels, renewable energy integration, and energy storage systems, effective coordination of energy flows is essential. TwinPort provides a structured way to analyze and manage these interactions, helping ports reduce emissions from vessels at berth and improve their overall energy efficiency.

The project also aims to improve the operational coordination within ports. By combining information on vessel activity and energy demand, TwinPort supports better planning of port resources and smoother day-to-day operations. This integrated perspective can help reduce inefficiencies and support sustainable maritime practices. TwinPort contributes to ongoing efforts to modernize port operations and support the transition toward greener and more efficient maritime infrastructure.

Funding Acknowledgement
TwinPort project is financed by Xjenza Malta and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) through the R&I Thematic Programmes: Digital Technologies Programme, Grant Agreement DTP-2025-02.