Navigating the green shipping: Stochastic hydrogen hub deployment in inland waterways

The maritime industry is shifting toward sustainability to help combat climate change, given the sector’s significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. This study focuses on the strategic integration of hydrogen fuel—a zero-emission alternative—into inland waterway transport systems. We recognize the operational characteristics of inland shipping networks and the complexities of two-stage financial planning. Consequently, we propose a two-stage stochastic framework for the deployment of hydrogen refueling hubs, taking into account financial uncertainties in the future. This approach contrasts with a myopic strategy and a two-stage deterministic framework, addressing both immediate financial constraints and future uncertainties. We focus on the Yangtze River’s shipping network as a case study, and our analysis validates the superior performance of our proposed two-stage stochastic strategy. This suggests its potential to accommodate volatile future financial uncertainties while ensuring the economic and operational viability of hydrogen integration.