Electric boats along the River Thames will soon be able to plug-in to charge and assist in reducing marine emissions due to a partnership between UK Power Networks and Net Zero Marine Services (NZMS).
UK Power Networks will deliver 1.5MVA of energy to the new NZMS battery storage facility which it claims will be the UK’s first high voltage shore power station above tidal waters.
Funded by UK Power Networks’ Green Recovery programme, the substation will be based on a fixed tidal platform above an ebb and flow tidal range of 7m.
Some 1.8km of new cables and equipment will allow for the electrification of boats, lowering carbon emissions, water contamination and creating a cleaner air environment on the Thames.
UK Power Networks has invested £1.2m into the local electricity network to enable the connection to be made near Lambeth riverside in June 2023, which was a month ahead of schedule and for use by summer 2024.
Under the Green recovery scheme, NZMS is developing five shore power locations in central London, which will create a network of HV power infrastructure available for all Thames operators. 85 sites will be delivered in all by UK Power Networks through £66 million of investment
Miles Cole, managing director of Net Zero Marine Limited, said: “We are very excited to reach this milestone. To reach net zero targets collaboration across stakeholders is absolutely key and we are delighted with the progress so far.
“We are on a mission to displace the use of diesel on the Thames by building the infrastructure which allows operators to switch to zero emissions technology such as electric vessels. We have worked closely with UK Power Networks and the Green Recovery Scheme has enabled us to unlock hard to reach areas on the Thames.”
Image courtesy of UK Power Networks
