10161343Green Renewable Energy for Efficient Networks: Off-grid Facilities for PORTs (GREENOFFPORT)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe GREENOFFPORT project explores how small and medium-sized UK ports can become self-sufficient clean energy hubs by combining renewable energy, circular hydrogen production, and smart digital infrastructure. This feasibility study will evaluate the integration of solar PV and wind energy, treated wastewater-to-hydrogen conversion, and direct port electrification through an off-grid, modular system coordinated by a Digital Twin platform. Smaller ports like Montrose and Plymouth play a critical role in regional logistics, offshore energy, and economic development but face persistent barriers to decarbonisation, including limited grid access, high electrification costs, and limited investment capacity. GREENOFFPORT offers a novel and scalable alternative: producing clean energy on-site using locally available resources such as land, wastewater, wind, and solar. A key innovation is the use of treated wastewater as a feedstock for hydrogen production, avoiding the environmental and energy-intensive challenges of seawater desalination while conserving freshwater. Hydrogen will be generated via electrolysis, with the water pre-treated through energy-efficient forward osmosis (FO) using low-impact organic compounds and waste heat from nearby industrial activity and electrolysers. The green hydrogen produced can be stored using metal hydrides or liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) and used to power shore power systems, hydrogen fuel cells, or cargo handling equipment, improving air quality and operational flexibility. By-product oxygen from electrolysis may also be used to reduce energy consumption in nearby wastewater treatment facilities, further supporting circular resource use. Montrose Port offers a particularly advantageous demonstration site, with 45 acres of available land and proximity to a wastewater treatment plant. Historical vessel data also shows increasing visits by hydrogen-ready and dual-fuel vessels, highlighting the potential demand for alternative fuels at berth. Plymouth, a diverse medium-sized port, complements this with its experience in electrifying small vessel infrastructure. The Digital Twin developed by the University of Strathclyde will simulate real-time energy flows, emissions savings, and investment scenarios, helping ports make informed decisions with lower risk and higher return. Delivered by Montrose Port Authority, Plymouth Port, Emerald Green Power, and the University of Strathclyde, the project will produce a business case, feasibility outputs, and a national replication roadmap, supporting the UK's Net Zero, Hydrogen Strategy, and clean maritime leadership globally.