Brighton turns attention to renewable energy solutions for UK ports
The UK university has teamed up with Newhaven Port to support cleaner shipping.
The UK relies heavily on the maritime sector, with 95% of imports (by weight) arriving by sea. However, domestic ships accounted for 5Mt of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2019.
The University of Brighton will investigate practical ways to supply Newhaven Port and its vessels with sustainable energy.
The project, called GREENPORTSIDE, will investigate how renewable electricity can be used at the port to support ships and port operations in ways that are technically feasible and economically viable. The findings could help shape the UK’s transition to zero-carbon shipping.
The team will look at both short-term and long-term solutions, including shore power – allowing ships to plug into electricity while docked instead of running diesel engines – and more ambitious options, such as the port generating enough renewable electricity to power its own operations and provide fast-charging facilities for battery-electric vessels.
