£500k government boost to electrify River Thames

The ‘Electric Thames’ project will enable electric vessels to store surplus renewable energy when it’s abundant and return it to the grid during peak demand.

After completing Discovery in May this year, in which the UK Power Networks-led project demonstrated its potential, the project pulled the Port of London Authority on board, while energy modelling is being done by Marine Zero and LCP Delta.

The next stage is to map current and future energy requirements for different vessel types operating on the Thames, and developers ’will explore scalable solutions and potential pathways for adoption across the broader market’ laying the foundation for widespread implementation’.

“Together with our partners LCP Delta and UK Power Networks, we are now positioned to deepen our understanding of the operational requirements and key adjustments needed to make zero-emission vessels a viable option for Thames operators,” said Marine Zero operations director Andy Hurley.

“The Thames has been the lifeblood of London for thousands of years, so it is exciting to be laying the foundations for it to enter the age of green energy,” said Luca Grella, Head of Innovation at UK Power Networks. “Our aim is to create a blueprint that could revolutionise maritime transportation, and be scalable across the UK and beyond.”