Floating e-hubs as a means for vessel electrification

The Urban Foresight-led CoastalCoRRE collaboration, bringing together Supply Design, the University of Plymouth, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Apricity and Mhor Energy, will explore modular, floating e-boat charging hubs to support vessel charging for fishing and marine tourism fleets.

“CoastalCoRRE is about delivering practical, scalable solutions to accelerate the decarbonisation of our coastal fleets,” said Callum White, head of net zero mobility at Urban Foresight.

“By bringing charging infrastructure to where vessels operate, we can unlock the potential of electric propulsion in even the most remote parts of the UK.”

Roadmap to deployment

Funded by UK SHORE and Innovate UK, the project will deliver a tested platform design and a roadmap to deployment by 2028, with Orkney identified as a primary case study.

The study addresses a core barrier to vessel electrification: Limited access to reliable vessel infrastructure in grid-constrained coastal areas.

By enabling vessels to recharge closer to operations, the hubs could reduce the need for oversized onboard batteries, extend operational capability and lower emissions from existing fossil-fuel engines, supporting the UK’s Net Zero 2050 ambition.

Technically, the system will connect to multiple renewable generation sources via advanced power conversion from Supply Design, while Mhor Energy will provide safe, long-life marine energy storage using a scalable redox flow battery.

The floating platform will be simulated and tested at scale under real-world wave and tidal conditions at the University of Plymouth’s COAST Lab.

EMEC will guide market engagement, marine licensing and site assessment, while Apricity will undertake lifecycle and market analysis to quantify emissions reductions and assess replicability across UK coastal communities.

Within seven months, the system is expected to reach TRL4, informing plans for a full-scale demonstrator by 2028.