Published on: 09 March 2023
Match funding support for collaborations looking at vessel and shore side infrastructure
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Department for Transport (DfT) to invest up to £77 million (in match funding) in innovation projects. These projects will develop, deploy and operate clean maritime solutions for three years in a real-world environment.
The zero emission vessel and infrastructure (ZEVI) competition is part of a suite of interventions being launched by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), part of DfT. They aim to transform the UK into a global leader in the design and manufacturing of clean maritime technologies.
The aim of this competition is to fund:
- 100% battery electric vessels
- Alternative fuel vessels
- Vessel energy efficiency technology, such as wind assistance
- Vessel charging infrastructure
- Shore power and corresponding vessel technology
- Alternative fuel refuelling infrastructure for vessels
Alternative fuel electric hybrid vessels are within scope. “Alternative fuels” in this competition refers to fossil fuel alternatives such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.
Your project will be funded from the agreed start date up until 31 March 2025, for costs associated with:
- Project delivery
- Vessel development
- Infrastructure development
You must demonstrate all funded vessels and infrastructure for three years, at your own cost, ending 31 March 2028.
This multi-year operating period will provide valuable data, demonstrating the efficacy of zero emission solutions in a real-world environment and across a range of operational states. The outputs of these projects will help to develop the wider clean maritime sector as well as inform future policy and regulatory decisions.
All projects must include on-vessel technology from vessels such as charter vessels, passenger boats, hire boats small commercial vessels with clean propulsion technology such as electric, hydrogen or other alternative clean energy fuels and shoreside infrastructure, with project partners from ports or infrastructure (which would include marinas, charging infrastructure companies, alternative fuel producers and suppliers and non-governmental licencing authorities) i.e. all projects must be a joint collaboration between infrastructure owners and operators and vessel owners and operators. This ensures guaranteed supply and demand over the lifetime of Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) projects.
The specific technology in scope will include the following strands:
- Electric vessels and charging infrastructure
- Shore power, both on the shoreside and vessel-side
- Alternative fuels and bunkering
When applying for funding your application must clearly state which of the above strands they are applying under.
As with all UK government funding there isn’t much time to get your applications in, so if you are interested you must act now.
You will need to form your partnership and put together a full project plan, costing and application before the deadline of 19 April 2023.
Interested in applying for funding but don’t know where to start?
The above funding and application details can be found on the Gov.uk website here: Competition overview – ZEVI: Alternative fuel vessels and refuelling infrastructure – Innovation Funding Service (apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk)
With a further overview found here: Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Help and advice can be obtained from Innovate UK, who run the project applications and awards: Apply for funding – UKRI
With contact details specific to funding applications found here: Get advice on your grant – UKRI
Help and advice on forming collaborations and finding project partners can be found through innovate UK KTN – Home – Innovate UK KTN (ktn-uk.org)
General funding advice for British Marine members can be found on the British Marine website – Funding (britishmarine.co.uk)
Get advice and further information
British Marine can also advise and provide further information on the funding and which members it could be worth contacting to form a partnership. Contact a member of the British Marine team at technical@britishmarine.co.uk
