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Hydrogen-powered vessels and e-charge points at ports could soon become a common sight on our seas and in our coastal towns, thanks to a £20 million competition launched today [22 March 2021] to make innovative green maritime ideas a reality.
The fund will be used to support the development of prototype vessels and port infrastructure that could then be rolled out widely – propelling the sector towards net zero as the UK prepares to host the COP26 climate change summit in November. The Government is encouraging scientists and academics to collaborate with UK shipping, ports and shipbuilders to enter ambitious proposals into the competition, driving economic growth, revitalising coastal communities, creating thousands of jobs, and positioning the country as a leader in the field. The trials will enable companies to test the new technologies, with a view to them being developed commercially if proven to be successful, helping us build back greener from the pandemic.
Today’s competition launch comes as the Government prepares to publish its transformational Transport Decarbonisation Plan which sets out how all modes of transport – sea, rail, road and aviation – can make the switch to net zero.
The Maritime Minister confirmed the news ahead of the launch of two Government funded studies focused on achieving net zero in both the recreational craft sector and offshore wind sectors. Developed in partnership with the Carbon trust, the new study on recreational craft will set out how we can overcome the barriers to the supply of, and demand for, zero carbon recreational craft. It will make a series of recommendations to governments and industry, including on using alternative fuels, which will be published in late Spring. Leisure boats and sports vessels are vital to the UK economy, worth almost £1.6bn in annual exports and employing 40,000 people across the UK. This follows the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan, which positions the UK at the forefront of shipbuilding and maritime technology to help push forward low carbon travel.
A separate study is being developed on the offshore wind sector, produced in partnership with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Workboat Association. It will bring a coalition of industry partners together to break down the barriers to moving all operational and maintenance vessels working in the North Sea offshore wind sector to zero emissions by 2025.
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