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Environment Agency Secures Bid for Zero Emission Workboats on Thames

Electric workboats are poised for deployment along the Thames River, marking a significant milestone in the creation of the world’s largest network of workboats with zero emissions. The Environment Agency is set to make a crucial contribution to curbing carbon emissions from commercial workboats within the United Kingdom.

What has the Environment Agency secured?

The agency has successfully acquired four electric workboats and established two charging stations, as part of the Zero Emission Workboat Network (ZENOW) initiative. ZENOW, a collaborative effort involving 15 marine businesses and organisations in the UK, aims to eventually roll out the planet’s largest network of electric workboats with zero emissions.

Under the leadership of RS Electric Boats (RSE), ZENOW has recently secured a £4.1 million grant from the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition, overseen by the UK Shipping Office for Emissions Reduction (UK SHORE) and Innovate UK.

The ZENOW initiative not only aids winning collaborators such as the Environment Agency in embracing zero emission commercial maritime vessels but also contributes to the development of cutting-edge technologies and products that position the UK at the forefront of the rapidly expanding global zero emissions sector.

The project will also program the boats for operational use and, over a three-year period, collect and analyse data to offer evidence, guidance, and assistance to approximately 10,000 small harbours and marinas worldwide that are preparing to transition to electric propulsion.

Led by RS Electric Boats Ltd, the projects also brings together UK businesses and organisations including the University of Plymouth, Lloyd’s Register EMEA, Aqua superPower Ltd, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, Yarmouth (IOW) Harbour Commissioners, Zero Marine Services Ltd, Cheetah Marine International Ltd, Urban Truant Power Ltd, Environment Agency, RAD Propulsion Ltd, Royal Yachting Association, WPNSA Ltd, Fowey Harbour Commissioners, and Salcombe Harbour Authority.

Responses

Lisa Craddock, a national navigation senior advisor for the Environment Agency, said:

“We are incredibly excited to have secured this funding. It means we can now trial 4 electric workboats and 2 charging points, free of charge, on the River Thames and in East Anglia, for the next 3 years. These will be the first electric boats of their kind in our fleet.

“They will be used for river enforcement, monitoring and maintenance and will make a significant contribution to our pledge to reduce our fleet boat emissions by 50%. Many of our medium sized craft are approaching the end of their lives, so this bid is well timed in helping us make long term decisions on the technology we should be investing in.”

Monitoring

Project collaborators will continuously monitor and assess usage data until 2028 to showcase the effectiveness of zero-emission solutions in practical scenarios and under various operational conditions. The results obtained from these initiatives will not only contribute to the advancement of the broader clean maritime industry but also serve as valuable inputs for shaping future policy and regulatory choices.

These twenty boats will be virtually interconnected, with the project’s technology associates, RAD Propulsion and Aqua SuperPower, implementing fleet-wide monitoring systems to gather data on operations and performance.

Jon Partridge, CEO of RS Electric Boats, said:

“This data will give us the know-how to understand how people operate the vessels. Electric boats are wanted all round the world, and ZENOW will be able to offer a series of like for like cases, giving people the confidence that electric can work in their environments. The network covers a broad sector of commercial work and activities. It also has very good representation across the commercial marine sector, which means that not only will we be protecting the marine environment, we’ll also be creating blueprints for others in the sector.”

Final thought

The deployment of electric workboats along the Thames River through the ZENOW initiative is a milestone that will have far-reaching positive impacts on the UK. This initiative directly aligns with the government’s Clean Maritime 2050 strategy and will have positive effects on both the maritime industry and society at large. It showcases a commitment to environmental responsibility, fosters innovation, and positions the country as a global leader in the transition to zero emissions in the maritime sector. The data collected and shared will not only benefit the clean maritime industry but will also serve as a blueprint for others looking to embrace sustainable practices. 

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