Engineers to develop new electric-hydrogen ships

Engineers at Liverpool John Moores University are again at the heart of the UK’s decarbonisation of the maritime industry.

Experts in the School of Engineering will work with AceOn Battery Solar Technology Ltd and other partners to develop hydrogen-powered ships to service the offshore wind farm industry.

The RESTORE project, which will reduce dependence on fossil fuels, is one of 19 funded today by the UK Government to the tune of £60 million to develop new green maritime technology.

The funding comes from the third round of the Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC3), which focuses on developing a range of clean maritime technologies including hydrogen, ammonia, electric and wind power.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Our maritime sector imports 95% of goods into the UK and contributes £116 billion to our economy – more than both aviation and rail combined. 

“The funding we’re awarding today will bring emission-free concepts to life and fuel innovation.”

During the two-year investment period, companies and collaborators will be required to demonstrate that their projects will work in the real world, helping them to progress towards becoming an everyday reality.

Dr Musa Bashir (Reader in Marine and Offshore Engineering), the principal investigator, Dr Hiren Kotadia (Senior Lecturer in Materials and Reliability and others will support the work led by AceOn to create a Retrofittable Propulsion System for Electric Vessels with Hydrogen Range Extender.

This project, will develop, test and deploy the technology on MCA CAT2 Crew Transfer Vessels between the Port of Blyth and an offshore windfarm.

LJMU's School of Engineering has a long heritage of working in marine and offshore engineering. For more information, see here.

Notes:  

The RESTORE project brings together a consortium of pioneering businesses and organisations from across industry and academia including Catapult Offshore Renewable Energy, Engas Global, Liverpool John Moores University, Newcastle University, Taurus Engineering and CAGE. The partners will work collaboratively to develop, test and deploy scalable and cost-effective propulsion and power systems which can be retrofitted to existing vessels.