‘Huge step forward’ for Portsmouth Port as they secure £19.8m to install green shore power system

Portsmouth International Port has been awarded £19.8 million by the UK government to get started on a pioneering decarbonisation project.

SEA CHANGE will involve the design, construction and operation of a shore power system across the port’s three busiest berths, allowing visiting ships to switch off their onboard engines and plug into their green electricity.

It’s being developed in partnership with Brittany Ferries, whose two new LNG-electric hybrid vessels set sail from Portsmouth in Spring 2025.

Stephen Watkyns, Technical Director at Portsmouth International Port said: “Once delivered, this revolutionary multi-user, multi-berth shore power facility will be a UK first.

“I’d like to thank the team at the port and our partners in the SEA CHANGE consortium for all their hard work getting this bid approved.

“This project is another huge step forward for our ambitions to reach net carbon neutral by 2030 and eliminate emissions by 2050.”

SEA CHANGE is expected to save around 20,000 tonnes in CO₂ emissions a year from 2027 – the equivalent footprint of 2,500 UK households.

It comes as part of the government funded Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure competition, which is driving innovation in clean maritime technologies.

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson is the Cabinet Member responsible for the port at Portsmouth City Council.

He added: “Improving air quality is one of the most pressing issues facing Portsmouth today.

“Across the council we’re undertaking a huge range of projects to combat harmful emissions, which includes approving a massive upgrade of the electricity supply to the port so this project can happen.

“It’ll also bring new high-skilled jobs and investment to the city, so I’m delighted we can now deliver this for the people of Portsmouth.”

Among the industry collaborators on the project are the University of Portsmouth, which is set to lend its academic expertise in data science, smart power grids and environmental impact analysis.

They’re joined by MSE International, B4T, IOTICS and Swanbarton.

Together they’ll work with the Solent’s industry clusters to help grow skills across the region and drive investment.

• portsmouth-port.co.uk