Sivas Cumhuriyet University (SCU), one of Türkiye’s leading public research institutions, proudly contributes to the Horizon Europe project FLEXSHIP (Grant Agreement No. 101095863) under the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership. Within the project, SCU brings together interdisciplinary expertise in electrical and electronics engineering, computer science, chemical engineering, and sustainable finance to advance the digital green electrification of vessels. The team’s mission is to develop innovative hybrid energy system architectures, AI-driven data analytics, and cost-effective pathways that accelerate the transition toward zero-emission maritime operations.
Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aksöz from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SCU coordinates its technical and scientific contributions to FLEXSHIP. Dr. Aksöz oversees the design and validation of hybrid electrical architectures, power electronic interfaces, and battery management strategies, while also contributing to the digital-twin-based monitoring and control platform that interlinks vessel subsystems with cloud-enabled analytics. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Şeker, also from Electrical and Electronics Engineering, focuses on converter topologies, control algorithms, and power quality improvements to ensure high-efficiency and stable energy conversion. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saadin Oyucu from the Computer Engineering Department develops AI-based condition monitoring and predictive maintenance algorithms, integrating machine learning models within the FLEXSHIP digital twin environment for intelligent system diagnostics. Asst. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Keklik from the Department of Banking and Finance leads the economic modelling, cost–benefit analysis, and sustainability assessment of electrification technologies, ensuring that FLEXSHIP’s technical outputs align with European Green Deal goals and long-term financial feasibility. Prof. Dr. Emre Biçer from the Chemical Engineering Department contributes his expertise in electrochemical processes, energy materials, and battery chemistry, supporting the characterization and performance optimization of maritime battery systems and hybrid energy modules. Yousef Elhams, an MSc researcher, assists with simulation studies, data validation, and prototype testing, contributing to the integration of sensor data and communication protocols for system-level validation.
Through these combined multidisciplinary efforts, SCU drives several key innovations within FLEXSHIP. The team is simulating to develop power converters and hybrid storage architectures to enhance vessel efficiency and reliability, while its digital twin implementation provides real-time performance tracking and predictive control. In parallel, AI-driven fault-detection algorithms and sustainability-oriented economic models enable smarter maintenance decisions and greener operational strategies.
By merging engineering excellence, artificial intelligence, and sustainable finance, Sivas Cumhuriyet University plays a pivotal role in FLEXSHIP’s mission to design greener, smarter, and more resilient electric vessel systems, helping to pave the way for next-generation sustainable maritime transport across Europe.
FLEXSHIP is funded by the EU Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 101095863.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 101095863
