The second year of Sustainable Flow turned plans into action
The first year of the Sustainable Flow project focused on groundwork: analysing baseline conditions, mapping port emissions and defining targets. In the second year, the focus shifted to practical implementation. The most significant milestone was the procurement of the digital emissions tool and the launch of its development.
The project’s ambitious objective is to reduce CO₂ emissions in participating ports by 10% by the end of 2026, and to maintain the achieved level for three years after the project has ended. In each pilot port — Pori, Rauma, Mariehamn, Norrköping, Oxelösund, Tallinn and Riga — baseline measurements were carried out in early 2025 to ensure that progress can be monitored reliably.
Concrete actions to increase energy efficiency also moved forward. The first solar panels were installed on the roof of Mariehamn port in spring 2025, with installations continuing throughout summer and autumn in other pilot locations.
A digital tool to monitor port emissions
Following the 2025 tendering process, Awake.AI was selected to develop the digital tool. It is being built as an open-source solution, enabling not only the pilot ports but the wider maritime sector to benefit from it in the future.
The tool enables ports to collect emissions data from multiple stakeholders and produce reports that meet both national and EU-level requirements. It calculates CO₂ emissions from different operations and identifies the most significant sources.
“With this digital tool, we are giving ports a practical way to track and understand their emissions. It is developed by and for the port sector, which means it reflects the realities of daily operations while supporting compliance with both national and EU reporting requirements,” says Cathrin Merino, Project Manager, Transportföretagen.
Decision-making support for the green transition
The digital solution includes a decision-support tool that allows ports to explore different emission-reduction scenarios — for example switching to biodiesel, electrifying equipment, or expanding solar energy — and to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each option.
In addition, a practical guidance tool will be published on the Central Baltic website. It compiles real-world experiences of renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures implemented in ports, including technology recommendations, examples of successful solutions and lessons learned. Together, the guidance tool and the decision-support tool form a comprehensive package that helps ports plan and compare sustainable development measures.
Communication ensures smooth uptake
Effective communication and cooperation have played a key role in ensuring broad and successful adoption of the digital tool. During the second year, project visibility increased through:
- 65 articles by project partners and media
- 71 event and fair participations
- 234 social media posts
Looking ahead to the final project year
In May 2025, the first Minimum Viable Product (MVP) version of the tool was released, focusing on core functionalities. It is currently being tested in pilot ports, and user feedback will guide improvements towards the final version.
Throughout 2026, the digital emissions tool as well as the guidance and decision-support tools will be finalised in close cooperation with pilot ports and other stakeholders.
“The final year will be the most intensive, but with strong cooperation, communication and stakeholder engagement, we are on track to reach an excellent outcome,” says Project Manager Mika Lindfors, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.
Sustainable Flow is part of the Interreg Central Baltic 2021–2027 programme and is co-funded by the European Union.
