Project ZERO - Zero Emission Research and Offshore Service Vessel

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£3,660,505

Jan. 1, 2023

Aug. 31, 2023

**Project Zero** will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of achieving zero emission operations of offshore survey and research vessels (OSRVs) in the long-term, while remaining flexible to future alternative fuel developments. Outside of its own green credentials, the vessel will support expansion of the rapidly accelerating offshore renewable energy industry. The project will investigate innovative ship designs and integration with energy efficient hybrid drive train systems to increase overall ship efficiency resulting in significant reduction of greenhouse gas emission and accelerating the transition to zero emission fuels. While in the short term a mix of fuel will be used in an innovative engine room configuration, moving with regulatory and technological developments in the long term the vessel will be able to operate purely fuelled by hydrogen, ammonia, or other alternative fuels.

The project address key challenges and barriers of achieving zero-emission propulsion and strengthening the UK maritime industry such as

* energy efficiency improvements of ship and integrated systems in light of transition from high energy fossil fuels
* significantly reducing GHG emissions of offshore renewable support activities
* integration of innovative drive train systems and control strategies for hybrid-electric operations
* advancing development and justification of new rules and regulations relating to the storage, handling and operation of alternative fuels in the maritime industry.
* Accelerating supply chain developments, skills and education towards building world leading offshore support vessels in the UK