Feasibility study underway for UK’s first maritime green corridor

LONDON : A feasibility study has been launched into the creation of a maritime green corridor between Dover, Calais and Dunkirk.

Schneider Electric announced that it is a technical partner in an eight-month consultancy project on the design and delivery of the UK’s first green shipping corridor, connecting the UK port of Dover to Calais and Dunkirk.

With the ultimate aim of zero-emissions movement of goods and people between the ports, Schneider Electric will look at green energy pathways for vessels and vehicles. Analysis will also be undertaken on the provision of cold ironing services to vessels at berth.

As part of the project, a digital twin of the Port of Dover’s electrical infrastructure will be produced, where new power systems can be tested virtually ahead of construction and integration into the port.

The project aims to create a blueprint for other UK ports to follow in development of their own green corridors and broader decarbonisation initiatives.

Peter Selway, Segment Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric, said: “Port operators are facing pressure to transition to more sustainable business models that meet with the net-zero ambitions of the Clean Maritime Plan. UK ports are also becoming energy producers, providing the shore power needed to charge electric and hybrid vessels. By partnering in this consultancy project, we’re able to advise the Port of Dover on how to strategically invest in the shore power capabilities and infrastructure needed to support a green shipping corridor.

Megan Turner, Environment and Sustainability Manager at the Port of Dover, said: “Some ferries operating from the port are being upgraded to run on electric batteries and other forms of renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions. This is a key part of our work to place Dover at the vanguard of decarbonisation within the UK port industry, with the ambition to become the world’s first high-volume green shipping corridor.

“This represents a huge transition for us as we evaluate our current and future power needs. Working with Schneider Electric, we will be able to determine what type of electrical infrastructure we will need going forward to generate the energy required to power ships and the port itself. The consultation will help us open the green corridor and crucially allow us to understand better how to leverage shore power and manage energy supplies effectively.”