Gempacs is a green technology startup founded with the mission to comprehensively electrify the waterway transportation sector, starting in Indonesia and rapidly expanding across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. The solution offered by Gempacs is regarded as a significant step forward in the region’s energy transition and green economic development—especially given that waterway transport, despite being a major contributor to CO₂ emissions, has often been overlooked in terms of technological innovation.
At the core of Gempacs’s technology is the replacement of traditional internal combustion engines with advanced electric motors powered by energy storage batteries and solar panels installed directly on the vessels. This system not only reduces operational and maintenance costs compared to fossil fuel-powered boats but also eliminates CO₂ emissions during operation. Additionally, Gempacs has developed intelligent monitoring software that enables vessel owners to track travel routes, battery levels, and emission reductions, thereby facilitating more efficient operational decisions. Another standout feature is a network of port charging stations integrated with an IoT platform, optimizing energy replenishment and contributing to the development of a smart and green inland waterway ecosystem.
Going beyond just hardware and software, Gempacs pursues a holistic strategy by partnering with seaports to implement integrated charging station models. This is a critical step in addressing the infrastructure gap—a major barrier to electrification solutions in transportation. By proactively developing hardware, software, and the supporting infrastructure in parallel, the startup has built a closed-loop business model, offering a competitive advantage over other solutions that focus on only one segment of the value chain.
In terms of impact, Gempacs’s technology tackles key challenges in the waterway transport sector: high emissions, rising fuel costs, and outdated operational monitoring systems. Compared to engine upgrades or the use of biofuels, full electrification provides more sustainable long-term benefits, both environmentally and economically. The integration of solar energy also helps leverage the abundant natural resources in Southeast Asia, where sunlight is available year-round, thus increasing the energy self-sufficiency of vessels.
At the P4G Vietnam Forum 2025, Gempacs showcased its solution to international organizations and regional investors. This was not only an opportunity to access capital but also to expand its strategic partnership network for deploying the solution in new markets. Furthermore, according to internal data from the startup ecosystem, Gempacs has received technical support from several R&D institutions in Indonesia and is currently working with impact investment funds across Southeast Asia to realize its goal of replacing 75,000 vessels within the next five years. Achieving this goal could help reduce millions of tons of CO₂ emissions and create profound impacts for coastal communities where waterway transport is the primary means of travel and goods transportation.
The growth of Gempacs demonstrates that applying green technology to traditionally conservative sectors like inland waterway transport is entirely feasible—with the right long-term vision, strategic approach, and support from the innovation ecosystem. It also stands as a clear testament to the spirit of entrepreneurship for sustainable development that is increasingly taking root in the region.
