- New technologies that will help decarbonise shipping
bolstered by £34m in Government funding.
- The fourth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration
Competition (CMDC4) will support UK industry to deliver net zero
in the maritime sector.
- Winners of previous rounds have included projects to develop
a brand new fully electric ferry for the river Thames and an
electric charging system to power vessels at offshore wind farms.
The maritime sector given greater support to deliver innovative
solutions and new technology in the race to decarbonise the
industry and grow the economy, as it Government commits £34
million of funding, part of the Clean Maritime
Demonstration Competition (CMDC) today (7 July).
With the fourth round of funding, this brings the total invested
through the CMDC to £129 million. The competition looks to foster
and promote the continued progress towards reaching our net zero
goals through the development of novel and sustainable
technologies that will help connect people, goods and services in
a cleaner, greener way.
Maritime Minister Baroness of Norbiton
said:
“Pushing the boundaries of possibility is integral to the UK’s
global ambition of a greener maritime sector. That’s why
today’s new round of funding continues to set that course, not
only keeping our climate goals on track but also boosting
opportunities for private investment, new jobs and growing the
economy.
“The UK’s maritime sector is one of the most competitive and
innovative in the world and today’s latest Clean Maritime
Demonstration Competition funding is testament to that.”
Today’s funding will open for applications on 2 August until 27
September. The competition scope and eligibility criteria are
available to read on the competition webpage now. Prospective
bids will be assessed against a range of criteria to see how
likely they will deliver on real world demonstrations of clean
maritime technology. This can include everything from creating
alternative fuel sources for freight ships to pushing the limits
of battery powered vessels.
A total of 105 projects across the UK have been awarded more than
£95m in the first three rounds of the Clean Maritime
Demonstration Competition to support the design and development
of clean maritime solutions towards commercialisation. One
example of this is MJR Controls, which has been developing a
charging system that can be installed on offshore wind turbines.
This will power electric crew transfer boats and maintenance
vessels operating in offshore wind farms, reducing carbon
emissions.
Elsewhere, Collins River Enterprises has been awarded £6 million
of funding to demonstrate a zero-emission electric river ferry
from Canary Wharf to Rotherhithe in London. The ferry will
provide a sustainable alternative to a polluting drive or busy
tube and create a blueprint for sustainable ferry crossings
across the UK and around the world.
UK Chamber of Shipping Chief Executive Sarah Treseder
said:
“Instilling confidence in the UK shipping industry to invest in
new technologies and fuels is central to reaching net zero. This
funding, with a focus on real world demonstrations, will help to
do that and unlock investment from across the shipping community
to deliver the technologies that will reduce emissions while
ensuring shipping remains at the heart of the UK’s economy.”
Through the development of both business and consumer focused
tech, this competition is ensuring that UK maintains its status
as a world leader across all facets of the maritime sector and
builds on our Clean Maritime Plan and Maritime 2050 ambitions.
This ongoing focus to foster green maritime technology will not
only showcase the UK as a base for private investment but help
boost the possibility of future jobs in the maritime sector, grow
the economy and highlight how the UK sector is at the cutting
edge.
The CMDC is funded by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing
Emissions (UK SHORE) and delivered by Innovate UK. UK SHORE is a
programme within the DfT focused on accelerating the technology
necessary to decarbonise the domestic maritime sector and is
delivering a suite of interventions aimed at addressing different
barriers to maritime decarbonisation.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The competition scope and eligibility criteria are available
to read on the competition webpage now, which can be accessed
here.
