A number of projects from the North East and Yorkshire have secured government funding to develop green technologies for ports and ships.

The funding comes from the fourth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which was designed to support development of a range of clean maritime technologies including electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind power and more.

Successful projects from the North East and Yorkshire include:

• A project aiming to create the world’s first electric Crew Transfer Vehicles for the operation and maintenance of offshore windfarms, supported by the Blyth-based Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
• An innovative hybrid infrastructure system delivering both electric and hydrogen for vessel fast charging and refuelling using off grid renewable energy and onsite wastewater.
• A feasibility study for a green shipping corridor between Northern Ireland and Liverpool, involving Teesside University.
• An Advanced Zero Emission Analysis Tool designed to incentivise green fuel alternatives and optimise  vessels’ duty cycles and operational profiles.
• A study into offshore battery charging from Service Operational Vehicles involving the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
• Development of an ammonia powered engine for maritime vehicles.
• An emission-less Offshore Service Vessels study involving Newcastle University.
• Shore or barge-mounted fuel-flexible Generator development, designed to reduce the need for space and grid capacity for traditional generators, involving Teesport.
• A retrofit project for active Crew Transfer Vehicles.
• More powerful and easier to retrofit battery technology development involving the UK Harbour Masters Association in Morpeth.

The North East and Yorkshire Hub chairs the national Hub working groups for Commerce and Industry, which aligns the work of the national Net Zero Hub network with local economic development activities, including those relating to maritime decarbonisation.