New project for cleaner maritime industry

The University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth are part of the initiative

The University of Plymouth is part of a new project to create an environmentally cleaner maritime industry.

Alongside other partners, the University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth are set to research and develop technologies to encourage harbours and ports to be more environmentally friendly.

Teams said they hoped the use of marine batteries, and a certain way of charging them, would also minimise costly grid upgrades.

Lee Durndell, a lecturer in chemistry at the university, said there was a "clear appetite from both vessel and harbour owners to see the sector grow over the coming years".

The project is led by Aqua superPower, which provides electric boat owners with charging stations.

Alex Bamberg, the CEO of the company, said the work could "position the UK as a vessel-to-grid technology pioneer".

Mr Bamberg added: "Enhanced energy management will allow sites to better adapt to increasing demands on power from electrification of vessels, potentially reduce the grid connection where capacity is limited or costly and integrate more renewables."