Ecomar Propulsion wins funding for ‘clean marine’ mobility

Ecomar Propulsion has won an award for grant funding for clean propulsion, with a successful bid into the Sustainable Innovation Fund. The grant will fund a technical feasibility study for the rapid electrification of outboard power systems for commercial marine vessels up to 500kW.

This project forms part of Ecomar’s journey to design a range of UK-manufactured clean electric marine propulsion systems, capable of hybrid function with a hydrogen fuel cell. If successful, this feasibility study will lead to the development of a prototype, then on to full-scale manufacture and sale of high power, clean propulsion systems.

Ecomar’s ambition is to become a world leader in industrial propulsion systems within the next five years and to reduce CO2 emissions by 1 million tonnes per annum. This ambitious target is closer to being achieved thanks to the additional funding from UK Innovate.

Many vessels work close to shore each day: ferrying passengers, carrying cargo, servicing wind turbines, or responding in emergencies. The company says regulations which are coming into effect in coming years to make ports and seas cleaner mean that fossil fuel powered vessels will not be allowed to operate. The marine industry needs a solution for rapid easy switch over to electric propulsion, and promote a de-carbonised, cleaner seas and waterways.

“Britain is a world leader in automotive manufacture but has ignored marine propulsion for decades,” says Anthony Bennett, operational excellence director.

“We intend to reverse that and develop centres of excellence for future generations. The way global trade has been highly damaging to the environment and the way shipping has contributed to climate change needs to be addressed. We want to be part of the solution.”

The University of Exeter’s Centre for Clean Future Mobility (CFCM) will help to design and optimise commercially viable electric and hybrid powertrains for marine applications. CFCM has a wealth of experience in this field, being one of the partners working on the electrification of the UK’s first zero-emission passenger ferry with Plymouth Boat Trips.