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Portsmouth International Port has been awarded £19.8m from the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI) for a decarbonisation project with Brittany Ferries, alongside the University of Portsmouth, MSE International, B4T, IOTICS and Swanbarton.
The SEA CHANGE project will design, build and operate a ‘shore power’ system across the three busiest berths at Portsmouth International Port, meaning that visiting ferry or cruise ships can turn off their engines when in the port, as they will be able to plug-in and use green electricity to run their onboard systems.
Providing shore power will reduce emissions and improve air quality around the port. It is estimated that the system will save over 20,000 tonnes of CO2e per annum from 2027.
Brittany Ferries is introducing two new LNG-electric hybrid ferries from 2025, which run on a combination of cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) and battery power. With shore power available at the port, they will be able to charge their batteries and run on battery power when manoeuvring through Portsmouth harbour.
Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the port at Portsmouth City Council, said:
Improving air quality is one of the most pressing issues facing Portsmouth today. Across the council we’re undertaking a huge range of projects to combat harmful emissions, which includes already approving a massive upgrade of the electricity supply to the port so this project can happen.
Councillor Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City at Portsmouth City Council, added:
I’m excited that the port can now forge ahead with this game-changing initiative that will slash carbon emissions and bring real benefits to local communities in Portsmouth. This project reaffirms the city’s commitment to reach net carbon neutral by 2030.
SEA CHANGE is part of the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI), which was announced in February 2023, funded by the government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
