  We consider the problem of energy transport in a chain of coupled quantum
systems with the goal of shedding light on how nonclassical resources can
affect transport. We study the cases for which either coherent or incoherent
energy hopping takes place in the chain. Here, incoherent energy hopping is
referred to as the "classical" scenario in allusion to its fully diagonal
dynamics in the basis formed by the eigenstates of the decoupled sites. We
focus on the case of a linear chain of two-level sites and find a hopping rate
threshold above which the coherent quantum case is more efficient than the
incoherent counterpart. We then link the quantum hopping rate to the coherence
global maximum, which allows us to state that there is a coherence threshold
above which the quantum scenario is more efficient. Next, we consider the
integrated coherence generated by the dynamics and show how it is related to
what is known as the invasiveness of a quantum operation. Our results strongly
suggest the significant role played by quantum invasiveness as a resource for
quantum transport.
