Belfast Harbour secures £15m for zero-emission testing
Belfast Harbour receives a £15m investment from UK Research and Innovation to test zero-emission transport and energy systems in a live operational port.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Belfast Harbour secures £15 million to test zero-emission transport and energy systems
- The cluster led by Artemis Technologies connects electric vessels and autonomous transport
- CEO Dr Iain Percy highlights the creation of a digital network to optimise energy and transport
- This marks the second project announced under the £30m Belfast-Derry Innovation Corridor
Belfast Harbour in Northern Ireland is set to become a live testing ground for zero-emission transport and energy systems, aiming to break down barriers to commercial adoption and demonstrate how these technologies function as an integrated ecosystem.
The initiative follows a £15 million financial injection from UK Research and Innovation's Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. A consortium led by Artemis Technologies will link electric boats, high-power marine chargers, autonomous transit networks, and energy grids using secure digital twin technology.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Artemis Technologies CEO Dr Iain Percy stated that the team is building a digital network designed to optimise both transport and energy consumption. For the general public, he noted that this efficiency translates to buses arriving punctually due to improved logistical coordination.
This development represents the second project unveiled from a £30 million funding allocation dedicated to the Belfast-Derry Innovation Corridor. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald explained that the endeavor will work on aligning the heavy energy demands of the harbour with available power supplies.
"We are really world leading in terms of this so it is a really good investment."
Dr Caoimhe Archibald
Digital twin technology, as utilized in this project, creates a virtual replica of physical port operations to simulate and analyze energy flows in real time. Implementing such systems in active commercial ports provides crucial empirical data for maritime decarbonization efforts globally, offering a scalable blueprint for future green infrastructure.
Insights gathered from this pilot project are expected to yield broad applications across Northern Ireland. Dr Percy added that the framework established on this digital network can easily be replicated elsewhere, noting that Foyle Port and other regional stakeholders have already shown genuine commitment to the initiative.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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