TARPAULIFE
New POLYOLEFIN-based large area coated fabrics-based tarpaulins to make waterbags an innovative and sustainable way of transporting large amount of freshwater over the sea
| Business | Period | Project Coordinator | Funding Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | May 2024 - April 2026 | RINA Consulting S.p.A. | LIFE-PJG |
Challenge
TARPAULIFE aims to demonstrate the manufacturing of large-area, polyolefin-based coated fabrics in a cost-competitive manner compared to current PVC-coated fabrics for large-scale applications in waterbags. The technology scale-up will facilitate the industrial use of waterbags for transporting large quantities of freshwater across the sea.
The live demonstration involves two 2.5 million-liter waterbags made with the new material, tested in two locations: the North Sea and the Mediterranean. The industrial plan envisions the production of over 100 waterbags within three years after the project's completion, storing more than 2 million cubic meters of water across three freshwater hubs. This innovative solution is expected to prevent the incineration of over 2,000 tons of PVC and save more than 13 tons of CO2 from being released into the environment.
Approach
RINA serves as the project coordinator for the TARPAULIFE project, ensuring efficient governance and overall project management. Leveraging previous collaborations with key partners on the modular waterbag concept through the REFRESH and XXL-REFRESH projects, RINA is tasked with both the preliminary and detailed engineering design of the waterbag, including its modules and components. Additionally, RINA will evaluate various demonstration operation scenarios under different marine conditions and contribute to the project's Market and Business Strategy as well as its Industrial Sustainability.
Conclusion
The flexibility of waterbag containers and their relative ease of shipment open up a range of potential uses, from long-term service on regular routes to one-time emergency interventions. Seven areas worldwide have been preliminarily identified as potential freshwater hubs based on two key parameters: high water demand at the destination and the presence of a suitable water source within a reasonable distance (no more than 10 days of navigation).
