Diesel technology company Cox Marine has joined the clean maritime consortium SHAPE UK (Shipping, Hydrogen & Port Ecosystems UK) to support its goal of transitioning Portsmouth International Port into the UK’s first zero-emissions maritime hub.
As part of the project, Cox Marine will work in collaboration with the University of Brighton to convert one of the company’s CXO300 diesel outboard engines to run on hydrogen as a dual fuel form of propulsion. The pair will subsequently demonstrate the converted engine in operation in the port environment.
“I see the development of effective and useable hydrogen-based marine propulsion systems as essential if we are to drive down emissions while continuing to provide essential transportation systems,” commented Tim Routsis, CEO, Cox Powertrain. This is an area where the UK is excellently placed to develop the technologies and infrastructure which will both reduce pollutants and give birth to a vibrant new UK-based economic sector.”
The conversion and demonstration project is part of SHAPE UK’s stated goal – to demonstrate an achievable modular green hydrogen generation system within the Portsmouth International Port. With the maritime industry emitting high levels of CO2 emissions and other pollutants, the adoption of decentralized energy systems could provide ports with a way to transition to carbon net-zero operations.
The project will address the viability of a local hydrogen infrastructure through the installation and testing of a modular hydrogen electrolyzer. Furthermore, SHAPE UK’s project will generate a digital twin of the port as a tool to determine the economic and environmental suitability of deploying H2 systems within key stakeholder ports. It will also assess the regulatory landscape around the generation and use of hydrogen in a port environment to determine where deployment can occur immediately and where regulations need to be addressed.
“The maritime sector as a whole and Cox in particular, recognize the need to make a positive contribution to the significant challenges of reducing worldwide CO2 emissions,” said James Eatwell, head of research and development, Cox Powertrain and SHAPE project lead for Cox.
“From Cox’s perspective, hydrogen represents a highly promising option for the reduction of marine CO2 emissions, and we are delighted to be a part of this exciting project, bringing together as it does such a comprehensive range of expertise from across industry.”
