Grants are available for UK businesses and partners to develop, deploy and operate clean solutions which will help decarbonise the UK’s maritime sector.

The Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure (ZEVI) Competitions aim to transform the UK into a global leader in the design and manufacturing of clean maritime technologies.

Three Innovate UK (IUK) competitions, running in parallel, will fund:

• 100% battery electric vessels.
• Alternative fuel vessels.
• Vessel energy efficiency technology, such as wind assistance.
• Vessel charging infrastructure.
• Shore power and corresponding vessel technology.
• Alternative fuel refuelling infrastructure for vessels.

Project demonstrations must include the zero emission vessel and infrastructure being used in a representative real world operational environment for a period of three years. Proposals must build, deploy and operate novel clean maritime technologies focused on on-vessel technologies and related shoreside infrastructure, including at ports, harbours and offshore.

Up to £77 million has been allocated to fund industrial research projects and experimental development projects. Individual project costs must be between £3 million and £40 million. The total grant cannot exceed £20 million.

The competitions are open to collaborations only. UK businesses of any size should lead. The lead applicant, or collaborator, must be ship owner, manufacturer or operator, or an infrastructure owner or operator, such as a port or windfarm. The project team can include collaborations with businesses, academic institutions, research and technology organisations (RTOs), charities, not-for-profits, or public sector organisations.

The deadline for applications is 19 April 2023 (11:00 BST).

How To Apply

All three competition strands open on 6 February 2023. The deadline for applications is 19 April 2023.

Applications are made online.

More information can bae accessed at the Innovate UK website.