HEMOS – Holistic Energy Management and Optimisation System

HEMOS (Holistic Heat Energy Management on Ships) is a 41-month project funded by Horizon Europe. Its aim is to reduce pollution from ships by using innovative dynamic models to capture waste heat onboard and improve energy efficiency by around 14 %. The project is coordinated by AS LTH-Baas (Estonia) and involves partners such as Baltic Innovation Agency (Estonia), InEpact AB (Sweden) and University of Naples Federico II (Italy). 

The project runs from May 2022 to September 2025 and is divided into three phases:

1. developing a heat-flow simulation tool using onboard data; 
2. designing optimised system layouts and automation;
3. installing and testing a prototype on a cruise ship. 

The project focuses mainly on cruise ships with replication potential across various ship types. Key target groups include shipowners, engineers, technology developers, environmental authorities and policymakers. BIA is responsible for business support, communication, and helping to promote and scale up project results.

The goal of HEMOS is to increase energy efficiency on ships by improving heat flow and integrating advanced waste-heat recovery systems. Key activities include:

• Mapping all major heat sources, consumers, and losses on the ship;
• Developing a dynamic simulation tool to optimise energy use based on real-time factors like weather and onboard demand;
• Considering technologies such as organic Rankine cycles, steam turbines, heat pumps, chillers, and waste heat recovery units;
• Piloting and validating the solution with a small-scale prototype installed on a real cruise ship.

HEMOS aims to reduce fuel use and emissions such as CO₂, NOₓ, SOₓ, and particulate matter by around 14 %. This supports EU climate goals and helps shipowners meet new environmental regulations. The technology has the potential for fast payback and cost savings. 

In the long term, HEMOS will strengthen innovation in maritime energy systems, support sustainable retrofitting of ships and increase the competitiveness of European technology providers. BIA helps ensure that results are shared widely and can be used by other fleets across Europe.