Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Feasibility studies

Overview

Innovate UK is investing up to £121 million, through funding from the Department for Transport, as part of Round 7 of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The programme sits within the wider UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions initiative, which aims to position the UK as a global leader in clean maritime technology and accelerate progress towards net zero.

Funding is available for projects focused on clean maritime technology and is structured across three distinct strands: deployment trials, pre-deployment trials and feasibility studies. Applicants must apply to the correct strand, as applications cannot be transferred if submitted out of scope.

The deployment strand supports real-world demonstrations of innovative clean maritime technologies in operational settings. The pre-deployment strand supports projects that design, develop and test technologies without live deployment. The feasibility strand supports primarily desk-based technical and economic studies that prepare innovative technologies or skills for future real-world demonstration.

Scope

The aim of the Feasibility strand is to fund feasibility studies of innovative clean maritime technologies and skills. Projects must undertake a primarily desk based technical and economic feasibility study. Each study must be associated with the development and future real world demonstration of innovative technologies for on-vessel use, maritime infrastructure use, skills, or a combination of these. Feasibility projects must not plan to test technologies in the water as part of the project.

If applicants intend to deploy solutions in an operational environment, including on the water, they must apply to the Deployment trials strand, which supports projects that develop, test and deploy innovative clean maritime technologies. If applicants intend to carry out substantial testing but not deploy solutions, they must apply to the Pre-deployment trials strand. If there is any doubt about the correct strand, applicants must contact support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before the competition closes. Applications submitted to the wrong strand will be ineligible and will not be assessed.

Definitions

For this competition, maritime is defined as the activity of commercial and pleasure vessels and supporting infrastructure used in the transportation of people and goods by water, or to perform activities at offshore installations at sea and on inland waterways.

Deployment is defined as demonstrating technology in a real world environment, for example operating a sea-going vessel at sea or operating infrastructure in a port or offshore, connected to a vessel on the water where applicable.

A feasibility study is defined as primarily desk based research. Feasibility studies may include data collection from existing technology deployments but must not incur substantial costs towards developing and testing technology.

Well-to-wake emissions are defined as the sum of well-to-tank and tank-to-wake emissions. Tank-to-wake emissions are those generated by operating maritime vessels. Well-to-tank emissions arise from the production and distribution of fuels and other energy sources used by maritime vessels. Further details are set out in Box 1 of the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy Analytical Annex and in the IMO framework on life cycle greenhouse gas intensity of marine fuels.

The difference between low carbon fuels and zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels is described in Box 3 of the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy. Since publication of that strategy, the International Maritime Organisation has approved amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships that include a definition of zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels.

For the purposes of this competition, zero and near-zero greenhouse gas emission fuels are defined as fuels with a greenhouse gas fuel intensity of no more than 19.0 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule. Fuel intensity must be calculated on a well-to-wake basis.

Project requirements

Projects must:

·      deliver[CF1]  a meaningful feasibility study before March 2028

·      underpin a future deployment by December 2029, delivering a meaningful technology, route to market, or supply chain innovation
demonstrate how the project can support a significant reduction in well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector, including, where relevant, addressing air pollution risks or other environmental impacts from decarbonisation solutions
include at least one representative end user, such as a vessel operator, port or harbour authority, with clear evidence of commitment
demonstrate significant market potential through a clear strategy for commercialising the technology and products, showing the potential for significant value to the UK
bring together a team with the necessary expertise and experience to successfully deliver the project objectives

Throughout, and at the end of the project, teams must:

produce[CF2]  a clear, detailed and costed plan for how the technology will be demonstrated in an operational setting in or between ports or on vessels, including technical approach, objectives and business case
detail the resources needed to carry out a future deployment trial, including funding requirements, delivery timescales, planning permissions, regulatory implications, new partners and information required for a clear business case
quantify the potential reduction in well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions, impacts on other emissions and positive economic impacts
develop evidence on expected commercial applications, exploitation plans and potential market segments
explain understanding of barriers to market adoption
detail the barriers that future demonstration will overcome and the innovation that will be delivered
share findings with the Department for Transport, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Innovate UK and any appointed third party contractors
produce a clear plan for disseminating project results and knowledge sharing across government, industry and academia
provide the evidence required to support the Department for Transport’s evaluation of the scheme

Innovate UK will issue further guidance to successful applicants on engaging with and providing evidence for the Department for Transport’s evaluation. Failure to engage when requested may result in suspension of the project or withdrawal of funding.

Successful projects will be required to engage with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK and appointed third party contractors in relation to evaluation of CMDC projects. Data shared may include application responses, project initiation data, monitoring data, end of project reports and participation in primary data collection such as surveys and focus groups. All information will be treated as commercially sensitive.

Types of vessel

Technologies for all sizes and categories of maritime vessel subject to the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 are in scope, including pleasure, commercial fishing and aquaculture vessels. Solutions may target one vessel size or multiple categories.

For projects involving a new hull, the vessel must be a United Kingdom Ship. For projects involving testing technology on an existing vessel, the vessel is expected to be a United Kingdom Ship. If not, applicants must provide justification within the application. United Kingdom Ship is defined in section 85(2) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Regulation

Vessels must comply with relevant regulations when undertaking voyages and, where appropriate, hold certification aligned to vessel type. Vessels cannot proceed to sea without relevant seagoing certification.

For projects involving a new hull, the vessel must be built to Classification Society or Certifying Authority rules and must remain under that authority for the full trial period.

For projects involving testing on an existing vessel, a United Kingdom Ship must remain under Classification Society or Certifying Authority rules. If the vessel is not a United Kingdom Ship, it must follow the rules of its flag state and is expected to be under Classification Society or Certifying Authority oversight.

Projects involving a vessel must engage with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency during delivery. The Agency may contact successful applicants shortly after notification to discuss project details. Failure to engage when requested may result in suspension or withdrawal of funding.

Types of infrastructure

Physical structures or systems necessary to enable clean maritime operations onshore or offshore are in scope. This includes infrastructure for freight, passenger, pleasure and commercial vessels located at ports, harbours or wind farms.

Clean maritime training and skills

Where proposals focus on clean maritime training and skills, they must address vocational or technical training infrastructure requirements to support workforce capability in clean maritime design, manufacturing, maintenance or operations.

Training and skills projects must demonstrate an ambitious and realistic response to a significant talent requirement, a clear focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector, novelty to the UK or a specific region or group, and value for money supported by credible evidence of return on investment in terms of trained, upskilled or reskilled individuals.

Green shipping corridors

Where proposals focus on a green shipping corridor, they must underpin a vessel navigating between both ends of the corridor in a real world operational setting, with at least one end located in the UK. To qualify as a corridor, at least one vessel with zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emissions on a well-to-wake basis must operate along the route.

At the end of the corridor project, teams must provide evidence of annual additional delivery costs across relevant market participants, including ship owners, ports and fuel suppliers, alongside clear funding plans covering private and public sources. They must evidence direct and indirect environmental impacts, produce a plan for scaling vessel numbers and supporting infrastructure, demonstrate scalable energy source options, quantify annual energy requirements and explain how energy will be produced, imported, distributed, stored and bunkered.

Projects must evidence vessel design, whether newbuild or retrofit, and set out plans for scaling fleet deployment beyond the demonstration. They must demonstrate how fuel will be safely supplied, bunkered and stored onboard, ensure regulatory compliance and develop a plan for disseminating learnings and data across the industry.

Value for the UK

Innovate UK strongly encourages applications from across the UK to support jobs and economic growth, including those led by ports, vessel operators, manufacturers and supply chains. Applications from areas with established clean maritime expertise or renewable energy clusters, including hydrogen, are welcomed.

Projects must clearly demonstrate how intellectual property generated will be anchored in the UK and how it will be exploited for the benefit of the UK supply chain and wider economy.

Applications are welcomed from UK subsectors that are close to commercialisation or have a clear technology pathway in the energy and growth space, particularly where barriers remain. This includes vessels and operations supporting the offshore wind sector.

Previous applications and projects

Continuation of feasibility studies and pre-deployment trial projects previously funded through CMDC rounds is encouraged. However, prior success in earlier rounds is not a requirement for eligibility in Round 7.

Key themes and topics

Projects can focus on one or more of the following:

Priority themes:

·       fishing vessels and inland waterways vessels

·       projects that combine the below Vessel or Infrastructure technology themes with Smart Shipping technology themes

·       zero and near zero GHG emission fuel systems, such as ammonia or hydrogen

·       retrofitting clean maritime technology to existing vessels

The priority themes are of particular interest in this competition but Innovate UK also welcomes applications that address any of the following themes.

Vessel technology themes:

·       vessel propulsion and auxiliary engines, for example: batteries, fuel cells, and internal combustion engines using low, zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission fuels such as hydrogen, methanol, ammonia or multi-fuel combinations

·       wind propulsion, including soft-sail, fixed-sail, rotor, kite and turbine technologies, targeting a range of ship types from small vessels to large cargo carriers, both as primary and auxiliary propulsion

·       low, zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission energy storage and management

·       physical connections to shoreside power or alternative fuel bunkering, including fuelling lines, battery storage and on or near site renewable energy generation

·       enabling technologies such as motors, drives, sensor and power electronics

·       technologies for addressing air pollution and other contaminant risks from vessels using low, zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission alternative fuels, covering both novel air pollution risks such as from ammonia (NH3) slip and adverse impacts on conventional air pollutant emissions such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)

·       technologies for addressing nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions from vessels using low, zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission alternative fuels

·       type approval of novel on-vessel equipment

·       onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS)

·       energy efficiency technologies, including those that enhance vessel range or lower alternative fuel usage to enable the fuel’s viability

Examples of energy efficiency technologies include ship hull efficiency, onboard waste heat recovery, propeller and rudder flow conditioning devices, air lubrication systems and energy efficient auxiliary systems.

Projects developing battery electric solutions for vessels less than 24 metres need to show clearly how the projects are novel and how they address limitations with existing electric vessel solutions.

Applications for battery electric solutions that are not novel or innovative will not be sent for assessment.

Battery electric applicants are encouraged to contact support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before the competition closes to check whether applications are in scope.

Infrastructure technologies including offshore themes:

·       shoreside storage and bunkering of low, zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission fuel

·       charging infrastructure and management for electric vessels

·       novel shore power solutions, such as enabling docked vessels to turn off their conventional power supply for ancillary systems

·       physical connections to shoreside power or alternative fuel bunkering, including fuelling lines, battery storage and onsite renewables

·       shoreside renewable energy generation at the port to supply vessels

·       low, zero or near zero greenhouse gas emission fuel production at ports to supply vessels, such as hydrogen, methanol, ammonia

·       zero greenhouse gas emission infrastructure, including stationary assets for freight handling and port operations within a port or harbour site

·       amendments to offshore infrastructure such as wind farms, required to support the use of zero, near zero or low greenhouse gas emission vessels

·       reception and storage of carbon from onboard carbon capture and storage

Projects focused on shore power technology need to show clearly how the projects are novel and how they address limitations with existing shore power solutions.

Applications for shore power solutions that are not novel or innovative will not be sent for assessment.

In addition, shore power projects must consider:

·       the energy source, its cost, sustainability, resilience, capacity, connection requirements and timeline

·       users, pricing and likely utilisation during any demonstration period

·       how to maintain operation and grow utilisation beyond any demonstration period

Shore power applicants are encouraged to contact support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before the competition closes to check whether applications are in scope.

Smart shipping, digital and autonomous maritime technologies themes:

Smart shipping, digital and autonomy projects must demonstrate how they contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and can focus on one or more of the following maritime themes:

·       maintenance and inspection within the maritime sector

·       improvements in port operations

·       vessel design optimisation

·       smart shipping safety and skills

·       vessel operations optimisation

·       vessel route planning and scheduling for efficiency

·       interaction with other transport modes, with maritime being the clear focus

·       assurance systems including establishing processes, measurements, systems and risk based approaches to assure the safety and operational competence of smart shipping systems

In addition, one or more of the following smart shipping areas must be a core part of the proposed work:

·       data: including using data captured in a novel way or as part of an innovative approach, solution or product

·       Artificial Intelligence (AI): including the use of AI either as new AI development, or as a novel application of existing AI

·       automated systems: including the development of automated solutions, both hardware and software

·       connectivity: including innovative use of telecommunications systems such as future networks, hybrid network systems and satellite networks

·       Position Navigation and Timing (PNT), including innovative use of telecommunications systems such as future networks, hybrid network systems and satellite networks; including innovative PNT devices and solutions, for example, quantum technology

·       Quantum Computing (QC): including using QC to improve existing solutions, products or to develop a new QC approach or solution

·       sensing or monitoring solutions: including the use of innovative devices and systems to provide sensing capability or the ability to monitor a system or vessel, including quantum technologies

·       digital twins: including creating digital models of real world systems or objects enabling bi-directional feedback

General themes

·       nuclear technology and corridors

·       green shipping corridors

·       clean maritime training and skills initiatives

·       novel clean maritime concepts that do not readily fit into the above themes

Project duration

Projects must:

• last up to 12 months
• start by 1 April 2027
• end by 31 March 2028

Award value

Projects must have total eligible costs between £100,000 and £1 million

Funding rates

For feasibility studies, which evaluates a project’s potential by uncovering key factors and informing confident, well-founded decisions about moving forward, you can get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 70% if you are a micro or small organisation
• up to 60% if you are a medium sized organisation
• up to 50% if you are a large organisation

Research organisations can share up to 50% of the total eligible project costs

Eligibility criteria

·      Projects must be collaborative and led by a UK registered business of any size

·      Projects must include at least one grant claiming SME

·      Collaborators can be a UK registered business of any size; an academic institution; a charity; a not for profit; a public sector organisation; or a research and technology organisation (RTO)

·      Subcontractors must be preferably UK-based with fully justified and appropriate costs

• All funded project work must be carried out within the UK
• intend to exploit the results from or in the UK

·      Subsidy control and state aid rules apply

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