Overview
This competition supports large-scale clean maritime demonstration projects that develop, deploy and operate innovative electric power solutions in real-world conditions. Delivered through the UK SHORE programme, it is designed to accelerate maritime decarbonisation and strengthen the UK’s position in clean maritime technology, infrastructure and manufacturing.
The Electric Power strand focuses on 100% battery electric vessels, charging infrastructure, and novel shore power systems. Successful projects must move beyond concept stage and show how their technology can be built, deployed and operated at scale, with a clear route to long-term commercial use.
Scope
Projects must develop, build, deploy and operate innovative electric power technologies for maritime use, including 100% battery electric vessels, vessel charging infrastructure, and novel, commercially viable shore power systems. Any related energy infrastructure at ports, harbours, inland waterways, marinas, offshore sites or similar operational environments can also be included where it is essential to the project.
Projects must evidence how vessels will be built or retrofitted and how accompanying infrastructure will be delivered in time for operational use by 31 December 2029. Funded activity can cover project delivery, vessel development and infrastructure development up to this point. Each project must then complete a non-funded three year demonstration ending by 31 December 2032.
Applications must show that the proposed technology will operate in a representative real-world environment and reflect a full-scale commercial operational profile. This includes demonstrating how vessels and infrastructure will be used extensively, how operational and environmental performance data will be captured, and how the solution will validate technical, commercial and regulatory viability over time.
Projects must include relevant end users, such as vessel operators, ports, harbours, marinas, inland waterway authorities or other infrastructure owners or operators, as an integral part of the project development and demonstration. Proposals must also show a realistic build or retrofit plan, a robust understanding of regulatory, commercial and supply chain risks, and appropriate arrangements for safety, training, repair and maintenance throughout the demonstration period.
Applicants must quantify the actual and potential reduction in well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions, explain any wider environmental impacts, and set out a credible route to market. This includes a clear plan to scale and commercialise the solution in the UK and internationally, while anchoring intellectual property in the UK and showing clear value to the UK supply chain and wider economy.
Successful projects must also commit to knowledge sharing and formal evaluation activity. Applicants will be expected to share demonstration data and findings with the Department for Transport, Innovate UK, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and any appointed evaluation partners, alongside providing a public summary of lessons learned.
Key themes and topics
Projects must focus on one or more of the following:
- 100% battery electric new build or retrofit vessels
- accompanying charging infrastructure
- related energy infrastructure at ports
- novel, innovative and commercially viable shore power systems
- vessel upgrades needed to enable shore power use
Shore power projects should consider:
- the energy source, cost, sustainability, resilience, capacity and connection requirements
- expected users, pricing and likely utilisation during the demonstration period
- evidence of current or future demand in the proposed location
- how operation will be maintained and utilisation increased beyond the demonstration period
- how to ensure shore power infrastructure is used significantly by vessels
Projects may also include smart shipping, digital or autonomy technologies where these directly support the core electric power solution.
Projects will not be funded if they focus on:
- battery electric vessels that are not 100% battery electric
- shore power systems that are not novel, innovative and commercially viable
- conventional fossil fuel powertrain improvements
- funded fossil fuel or fossil fuel powertrain costs
- marine conservation or ecology
- synthetic fuel production
- personal watercraft
- submarines or submersible vessels
- military applications
- duplicate or already commercially delivered solutions
Project duration
Projects must start by 1 April 2027
All grant funding must be claimed by 31 December 2029
Non-funded three year demonstration must start by 1 January 2030
Non-funded three year demonstration must end by 31 December 2032
Award value
Projects must have total eligible costs between £6 million and £60 million
Maximum total project grant funding request is £30 million
No more than £20 million can be allocated to a single participant
Funding rates
For industrial research projects, purposeful research that builds new knowledge and skills to improve or develop products, processes or services, funding is available for 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
For experimental development projects, which focus on testing, refining and validating near-market solutions, funding is available for eligible project costs of:
- up to 45% if you are a micro or small organisation
- up to 35% if you are a medium sized organisation
- up to 25% if you are a large organisation
Capital costs for vessels and infrastructure used in the demonstration can be funded up to 80% until 31 December 2029
Research organisations can share up to 5% 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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