Clean propulsion challenge for marine vessels between 500 and 7,500 HP (0.4 - 5.6MW): how can the UK accelerate a commercially viable solution?

Aim – To understand if there is a market or tech solution to decarbonise marine vessels by corralling market demand, the research base and government.

Description of the problem:

Engine manufacturers for certain classes of marine leisure vessels, fishing boats and workboats have indicated that they are not able to provide non fossil fuelled replacements for their existing diesel-powered products within the timescales that the market and legislation demand. What is causing this blockage? Marine engines represent only a small part of the business for the handful of global engine manufacturers who are currently focussed on shifting production to electric or other fuels for their core mass markets and products. This creates a barrier to the decarbonisation targets for the UK as a whole and also a risk to the future competitiveness of key UK industries and exporters. With risk comes opportunity. This event will seek to explore the issue by bringing together buyers of marine propulsion units across different marine sectors with government and the research community to explore the problem, barriers to progress, synergies between subsectors and try to scope potential solutions.

There is no intention of creating a road map, neither is there funding attached to the event. The aim is to bring a small number of key stakeholders together to enable better understanding of the issues at hand, thinking and ultimately collaborations and innovation towards long term industry wide commercially viable solutions.

For discussion:

• What the problem looks like for marine leisure, the workboat sector and fishing industry.
• Challenges in terms of use profile for the vessels, commercial barriers, buyer confidence in existing technological solutions, infrastructure charging in ports and harbours.
• Is there a technical solution? R&D leads from across the UK research base will be on hand to get a better understanding of the issues and to discuss potential solutions.
• Is there synergy between subsectors of marine that could unlock commercially viable solutions and if so how can the UK capture the business, and wider economic/social benefits of this transition?   

Confirmed attendees so far:

Maritime Minister, to launch via video address, Princess Yachts, Scottish Fishing Federation, British Marine, Serco, Marine and Coastguard Agency, BEIS, DFT, DIT, University of Exeter, Connected Places Catapult, Driving the Electric Revolution

Format:

Face to face event, November 5th in Central London. 10.00 – 3.00

Maximum 40 key stakeholders to allow frank exchange of opinions from key stakeholders. 

The event is almost at capacity through invitations to key industry stakeholders but a small number of places have been kept open. If you would like to be considered for the event please sign up below.

If we cannot accommodate you we will keep you informed of similar innovation focussed events.

The event is being organised by Maritime UK, the Society for Maritime Industries and the Knowledge Transfer Network as part of a series of national events supported by the Department for Transport with the aim of stimulating collaboration and innovation across the UK ocean economy. By signing up to the event you provide your permission to be contacted by the above organisations.