The government has recognised the fact that investment in green fuels not only supports the decarbonisation of shipping, it helps cement the UK as a clean energy superpower.
Coastal communities across the UK are set to benefit from the £30 million funding to decarbonise shipping and power up local economies. It will make shipping and sea travel greener, boost local economies, support jobs and skills, as well as revitalise Glasgow’s strong shipbuilding heritage.
The latest funding boost builds on over £136 million already delivered to more than 142 organisations across every region in the United Kingdom, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change missions to kickstart economic growth and become a clean energy superpower. According to the press release, successful companies will be given a share of funding to support the development of clean maritime fuels and technologies, such as ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, solar, and electric.
The government has recognised the fact that investment in green fuels not only supports the decarbonisation of shipping, but it also helps cement the UK as a clean energy superpower and revitalises coastal communities by growing local economies, boosting jobs and skills.
**Net Zero Shipping**
Mike Kane, the Maritime Minister, said it’s exciting to see investment in green fuel and technologies spurring skills, innovation, and manufacturing across the UK, delivering on their Plan for Change missions. “We’ve chartered a course to net zero shipping by 2050, and this £30 million will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.”
Chris Courtney, CEO, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, said clean maritime is a vital part of a wider mission to decarbonise transport. “Advanced manufacturing is critical to enable companies to scale up novel solutions that deliver emissions reductions and allow the creation of new jobs in these industries of the future,” he said. “We’ve spent the past 2 years working on the CMDC-funded MariLight projects, led by Glasgow-based Malin Marine Consultants, part of the Malin Group, supported by industry partners, where we demonstrated how advanced manufacturing can cut lead times, lower carbon, and enable localised production in shipbuilding. It’s great to see continued momentum through the programme, and we look forward to supporting Smart Green Shipping’s journey as it scales.”
Diane Gilpin, Smart Green Shipping (SGS) CEO, said CMDC3 support enabled SGS, a Scottish-based business, to demonstrate the safety and robustness of FastRig, their Clyde-built wingsails, and to build out a digital decision-making platform, FastReach, which underpins their unique wind-as-a-service propositions. “Over the last three years, SGS has invested £7.6 million in R&D, 60 percent of that in Scotland. We’ve drawn upon engineering design skills in adjacent sectors like renewables and oil and gas, and digital expertise created in Scotland’s vibrant tech community.”
Gilpin shared that they are also working alongside the National Manufacturing Institute of Scotland to design circular manufacturing solutions to reduce embedded emissions and minimise the use of precious materials while creating good green jobs as part of a sustainable just transition.
It should be noted that the UK SHORE is also delivering £3.85 million to the Clean Maritime Research Hub, building on its commitment to clean up shipping and deliver on the UK’s climate ambition. The funding will enable the hub to continue its important research and support the installation of a liquid hydrogen facility at Durham University. The centre will develop the maritime sector’s understanding of the potential impact of liquid hydrogen, which is emission-free – in the clean maritime transition.
