5. Benchmarking the SuperGreen Corridors with Green Technologies

Among the objectives of the SuperGreen project was the establishment of a green corridor benchmarking methodology. This chapter describes the characteristics and functions of a green corridor benchmarking exercise using green technologies, starting from the SuperGreen paradigm and arriving at wider conclusions. This exercise estimates (a) the baseline performance of six of the SuperGreen corridors according to the set of KPIs established in Chap. 3; and (b) the potential improvement of the corridor performance from an assumed use of advanced technologies. Using this benchmark, we arrive at conclusions on the role of green technologies on the development of a more sustainable EU transportation system. The scope of the chapter is then extended beyond the presentation of the SuperGreen results, to point out the necessary features of an efficient corridor benchmarking methodology and analyse the technologies that could have a pivotal role in the improvement of EU transportation corridors, including alternative fuels, hybrid systems, and energy efficiency measures. Particular focus is given to the preparatory phases prior to the creation of a benchmark, including the analysis of the baseline EU corridor technologies and the investigation of green technology application areas over the corridors. It is seen that he SuperGreen benchmark may result in a set of green technology enablers that could be applied on the corridors, accompanied by estimates on their greening potential and capacity to solve bottlenecks, as well as the barriers on their deployment. The role of ICT technologies is covered in Chap. 6.