UK’s coastal communities and businesses across the country are set to benefit from £30m of new decarbonisation funding.
The funding comes from the latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), launched on January 16.
CMDC is designed to support clean maritime technologies including electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind power and more.
Innovate UK will open the sixth round of the CMDC on January 24. The application window will close on April 16, 2025.
“CMDC round 6 is a great opportunity for UK innovators to take part in a world-renowned maritime transport R&D grant funding programme,” said Mike Biddle, executive director, Net Zero at Innovate UK.
Previous rounds of the competition have seen funding delivered to over 300 organisations, bringing in more than £100m of private investment across the UK.
Successful projects have included the installation of Britain’s first electric chargepoint network across ports in the South West, the retrofit of a hydrogen research vessel in Wales and the installation of a carbon capture system on a vessel.
George Thompson, CEO of GT Wings, said: “We’re extremely excited about the imminent launch of AirWing, our next-generation, compact wind propulsion technology designed to help even the most challenging ocean-going vessels decarbonise by harnessing wind power,” adding that, “this progressive step has been made possible thanks to the support of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.”
The first AirWing is being assembled at the MMS Docks in Hull and will be installed on a Carisbrooke Shipping vessel, with sea trials scheduled for March 2025.
The sixth round of funding brings the total invested through the CMDC to £159m.
CMDC funding comes from the £236m UK shipping office for reducing emissions (UK SHORE) programme, which is focused on decarbonising the UK maritime sector through research and development.
Innovate UK is the delivery partner for CMDC and will manage the distribution of funds to successful applicants.
