Marine transport is a highly efficient method of transporting goods and people around the planet and with over 70% of global trade transported by sea, forms a critical system within the global economy. Whilst marine transport is highly energy efficient (kilograms of CO2-equivalent emitted per kilograms of goods moved), it is a difficult system from which to remove greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

Decarbonising marine transport in order to contribute to the UK's net zero by 2050 and the International Maritime Organisation's 50% reduction by 2050 targets is a challenging and multifaceted problem that requires new technology to improve energy efficiency and replace onboard energy storage with low GHG alternatives.

This project seeks to address the energy efficiency aspect of the challenge and in so doing, to reduce GHG emissions associated with traditional fuels and make alternative, lower energy density storage solutions such as batteries and hydrogen more accessible. Teignbridge has undertaken initial development activity on an innovative, patent pending, high-efficiency controllable pitch propeller (CPP) solution which reduces capital cost by 24% compared to competing CPP technologies. This project will set out to bring this technology closer to market from its current, proof of concept prototyping stage through to at-sea demonstration of the technology on HRV1, a unique propulsion system test vessel.

In the same way that using multi-speed gearing can be used to improve land transport efficiency by ensuring that the prime mover can be operated at close to maximum efficiency across the range of the loading conditions of the vehicle, CPPs provide continuous variation in effective gearing between the prime mover and propulsion system thrust. Previous studies have shown that accurate matching of CPP control algorithms to vessels with highly variable duty cycles can improve efficiency by between 8% to 20% when compared to fixed pitch propeller (FPP) alternatives. The principal barrier to entry for this technology is cost. A key target of this project will be to bring the technology within reach of a much larger portion of the marine transport market.

Teignbridge has been designing and manufacturing propellers in Newton Abbot (UK) for over 45 years and is a trusted partner for high quality propellers and stern gear equipment. In addition to in-house expertise for the design, manufacture and sale of propulsion equipment, Teignbridge's reputation and market presence maximises the chance of rapid market uptake and therefore impact on the marine transport GHG emission reduction targets.