Port of Aberdeen has been awarded more than £200,000 from the UK Government to accelerate its drive to Net Zero by 2040.
The ‘Port Zero’ feasibility study, part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CMDC2), will analyse future port power demands, assess low-carbon energy sources for equipment and quayside infrastructure, and develop a roadmap to decarbonise port operations.
The project partners aim to develop a ‘Ports and Regional Strategic Advisory Group’ to
address the cross-sector challenges of decarbonisation.
As part of the CMDC2, the Department allocated over £14m to 31 projects supported by 121 organisations from across the UK to deliver feasibility studies and collaborative R&D projects in clean maritime solutions.
Port of Aberdeen is also partnering on the CMDC2 ‘Green Shipping Corridors’ feasibility study led by ACUA Ocean.
ACUA Ocean has designed a zero-emission vessel powered by liquid hydrogen, capable of open ocean transits and transportation of a 4.5ton payload.
The study will lay out a plan for the world’s first t hydrogen-powered zero-emission crossing demonstration from Port of Aberdeen to Norway in 2024.
Port of Aberdeen says if this is successful it will become an economically important potential green shipping corridor route.
This follows news that the Port of Aberdeen’s £400 million expansion is set to be completed on time, with work finishing in the first quarter of next year.
Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive at Port of Aberdeen, said: “Aberdeen’s port is at the heart of the energy transition and international trade.
“Our goal is to accelerate the transition to Net Zero through the development and introduction of innovative technology and processes which reduce emissions for the port, its users and supply chain.
“The funding for our ‘Port Zero’ project will help make this a reality.
“Public sector collaboration and investment in ports is essential to decarbonise the maritime industry and achieve government net zero targets.
“The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition is a positive example of government support in action and we hope to be successful in future funding rounds.”