STraM: A strategic network design model for national freight transport decarbonization

TL;DR

This paper introduces STraM, a strategic network design model that integrates infrastructure, fuel technology, and uncertainty to support cost-effective decarbonization planning in national freight transport, demonstrated through a Norway case study.

Contribution

STraM is the first model to explicitly incorporate fuel technology adoption, fleet inertia, and cost uncertainties into strategic freight network planning for decarbonization.

Findings

STraM provides strategic infrastructure and technology investment plans.

The model identifies cost-effective pathways for freight decarbonization.

Application to Norway offers insights into sustainable freight planning.

Abstract

National freight transport models are valuable tools for assessing the impact of various policies and investments on achieving decarbonization targets under different future scenarios. However, these models struggle to address several critical elements necessary for strategic planning, such as the development and adoption of new fuel technologies over time, inertia in transport fleets, and uncertainty surrounding future transport costs. In this paper, we develop a strategic network design model, named STraM, that explicitly incorporates these key factors. STraM provides a network design plan that includes infrastructure investments and fuel technology decisions, aiming to achieve cost-effective decarbonization of the freight transport system. The model's output can be used as input for higher-resolution national freight transport models to yield results with greater operational detail. We demonstrate the application of STraM through a case study of Norway, offering valuable insights into the strategic planning of sustainable freight transport.