Vessels operating on the River Thames could access shoreside or near-shore power this decade if a proposed UK decarbonisation project takes off
Owners of tugs, workboats, barges and passenger vessels working around the Port of London could benefit from power from quaysides or battery barges under the potential Electric Thames project.
A collaboration between UK Power Networks, LCP Delta and Marine Zero will assess the viability of using electric vessels to feed stored electricity back into London’s energy network and provide power to other port users.
This ambitious project would be a radical new relationship between Thames vessel operators and London’s electricity network and kick-start the construction of battery-powered vessels, including tugs, workboats, barges and Thames’ passenger ferries.
Part of the proposed project would be storing green energy from renewable sources, such as offshore and near-shore wind and solar, on battery-powered vessels on the River Thames and feeding it back to the grid during peak electricity hours.
The partners believe this approach could help increase London’s flexible energy capacity and reduce peak electricity demand, while cutting marine emissions in the UK capital.
They have started an initial, discovery and scoping phase, with support from the Port of London Authority’s transition to net-zero emissions and London mayor Sadiq Khan’s team working to achieve net zero for the city by 2030.
This discovery phase is funded via the UK government’s Ofgem strategic innovation fund (SIF) and is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2024.
Thames vessel and quay operators will be surveyed over the coming weeks to identify and map out their requirements for power and its storage to enable power suppliers to plan and complete any works needed to facilitate the move to cleaner vessel and river operations along the River Thames.
“Electric Thames is not just about achieving zero emissions on our capital’s river – it is even more exciting and significant than that,” said Marine Zero director Andy Hurley.
“Along with our project partners at LCP Delta and UK Power Networks, we are developing a completely new approach to increasing energy flexibility by developing new income streams and flexible solutions for vessel and quay operators.”
UK Power Networks head of innovation Luca Grella said this project could support the transition to a decarbonised energy system. “Tapping into this potential will not only help us create a cleaner Thames, but give us an additional supply of flexible, green energy.”
The Electric Thames project team will consult quay owners, vessel operators and other stakeholders to understand the opportunities for investing in electrification and a sustainable route to revenue.
Most vessels operating on the Thames currently rely on fossil fuels, although many tugboats and other workboats are using hydrogenated vegetable oil as fuel and a few passenger vessels have onboard batteries.
LCP Delta senior consultant Phillip Twiddy said more Thames vessel and quayside operators would move to electric power sources if there was better understanding about how the shift would benefit their operations and London’s power network and peak power demands.
“This strategic project could deliver some real benefits,” he said. “The project aims to help the marine sector lower its emissions yet also have certainty in its energy source. It will also help to accelerate the energy transition.”
Electric Thames has been supported by the national SIF and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Its outcome could also shape a new whole-system planning framework for the UK’s rivers, canals and waterways, offering insights for decarbonisation and electrification that could be replicated across the country.
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