The multimillion-pound Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition was recently launched and will see innovative companies apply for the funding, which must be used to decarbonize technology both on board and shoreside. The investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to a new green age for maritime travel, which is free from emissions, in line with the 1.5-degree temperature target set by the Paris Agreement.
“When it comes to tackling climate change, we are taking action on all transport modes, which is why we’re making sure our world-leading maritime sector has a greener future. This multimillion-pound investment will help the latest tech ideas become a reality and ensure UK waters will play host to green cargo ships, ferries, and cruises in the next few years. Our funding will support a cleaner freight system, a more environmentally friendly tourism industry, and a net-zero maritime sector,” said Transport Secretary Mark Harper.
Zero-emission ferries, cruises, and cargo ships will set sail in UK waters within two years, creating thousands of new jobs, thanks to a £77-million government investment in clean maritime technology. It is the first time in UK history that the government is intervening to specifically target this level of funding on green marine tech, which is already well developed. The budget will take the tech from the factory to the sea—identifying which projects will have a long-term impact in reducing emissions.
Launch a zero emission vessel by 2025
Successful projects must show they could use this money to work with major UK ports and operators to launch a zero-emission vessel by 2025 at the latest. Such technology includes battery electric vessels, shoreside electrical power, ships running on low-carbon fuels like hydrogen or ammonia, and wind-assisted ferries.
“Our National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh set ambitious plans to drive the green maritime revolution as a key step to reaching this government’s net-zero targets. This investment is a clear statement that we are taking these plans seriously, helping to put the United Kingdom at the cutting edge of clean maritime technology while benefitting thousands of UK jobs. The competition will be overseen by Innovate UK, which has a record of delivering similar competitions across government successfully,” said Defense Secretary and Shipbuilding Tsar Ben Wallace.
According to Innovate UK Executive Director for Net Zero Mike Biddle, the firm will work closely with the Department for Transport in delivering the ZEVI competition, resulting in multi-year real-world demonstrations of clean maritime technologies around the United Kingdom. “This latest £77-million investment in clean maritime innovation is another major milestone in the delivery of the wider UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK Shore) program to accelerate the transition to net zero.”
The government is also calling on universities across the United Kingdom to join forces to establish a new Clean Maritime Research Hub, with £7.4 million in funding from the government and additional funding from academia and industry. The hub will deliver research in the fundamental science behind clean maritime technologies, building evidence and expertise for the marine sector. It will also support skills development across the industry and generate knowledge for maritime decision-makers.
The hub will be delivered in partnership with and co-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
£206-million allocation
In March 2022, the government allocated £206 million for UK Shore. The program, within the Department for Transport, is focused on decarbonizing the domestic maritime sector by delivering a suite of interventions aimed at addressing different barriers to maritime decarbonization across a range of technology-readiness levels (TRLs).
UK Shore and Innovate UK delivered £77 million in match-funding to support high TRL research in close to commercial clean maritime technology. Funding was made available to cover the construction and set-up of projects until March 2025, with project partners covering all costs of demonstrating in an operational environment until March 2028. This multi-year operating period will provide valuable data, demonstrating the efficacy of zero-emission solutions in a real-world environment and across a range of operational states. The outputs of these projects will help develop a more comprehensive clean maritime sector and inform future policy and regulatory decisions.
All projects must include on-vessel technology and shoreside infrastructure, with project partners from ports or infrastructure owners and operators and vessel owners and operators. It ensures guaranteed supply and demand over the lifetime of ZEVI projects.
The specific technology in scope will include electric vessels and charging infrastructure, shore power (both on the shoreside and vessel-side), and alternative fuels/bunkering. In particular, zero-emission ferries are encouraged, and energy efficiency technologies will also be included. (Story courtesy of Gov.UK, photo by Cruise Mapper)