Researchers work to tackle maritime pollution

Researchers at the University of Southampton will work on four winning projects from the Department for Transport’s Clean Maritime competition. 

The Department for Transport announced the Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition in March 2021 as part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan to position the UK at the forefront of green technologies.

The programme is supporting 55 projects across the UK, all working on the research, design and development of zero-emission technology and infrastructure solutions to accelerate decarbonisation in the maritime sector.

In partnership with maritime organisations, the Univesity bid for funding through the competition and were successful on three projects: 

• To support the development and testing of a zero-emissions ammonia marine propulsion system 
• To test the feasibility of long-endurance liquid hydrogen 
• To investigate the use of fuel cell technology and batteries to replace the use of diesel generators on ships when they are in ports. 

Professor Damon Teagle, said: ‘The whole maritime network carries 90% of global trade, including ships of various sizes and uses, ports and the logistic webs that distribute goods from their origins to the places of consumption.

‘Presently, shipping alone emits approximately 3% of global CO2 emissions. However, the high energy demands of large machinery and the vast distances of the global supply chains mean that decarbonising maritime trade is a technically difficult challenge – and to date, there is no clear solution.’

In addition, consultancy services will be provided for clean combustion modelling as part of a study to assess the technical and economic feasibility.

The University’s work on the projects will involve field trials, detailed energy systems modelling and towing tank testing. 

In related news, Environment Journal investigates the true air pollution cost of our online shopping habits.