10161730An integrated hardware and optimised control system for multi-fuel delivery infrastructure for low carbon vessels and shoreside plantClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKWhilst transitioning to low-carbon shipping, multiple low-carbon fuels are currently being developed. It is likely that different fuels will be used by ships depending on operational requirements, like voyage duration and specific cargo. This poses difficulties for port operators developing onsite infrastructure which can service demands of vessels with different fuel types, representing very case specific investments. Two such technologies being developed are electric and hydrogen vessels and shoreside plant. HydroStar has recently concluded a CMDC4 project developing an innovative infrastructure solution which delivers both electrical and hydrogen vessel fast charging/refuelling in a hybrid system using off-grid renewables. Simultaneously, HydroStar has recently completed a Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund project which focussed on developing digital twins and a smart control system to optimise multi-fuel refuelling infrastructure at multiple ports across a region, operating both the infrastructure and vessels as a connected ecosystem to effectively reduce demand spikes and supply shortages. This CMDC6 project seeks to greatly advance the smart control system by developing the functionality to take live supply-side and demand-side inputs, then optimise fuel supplies and vessel/shoreside plant refuelling schedules in real time. This would build on successful outputs from both CMDC4 and SSAF, using an integrated approach of real time data capture from vessels and shoreside plant for demand-side model inputs, paired with physical data from hydrogen and electric infrastructure systems for supply-side inputs. The control system will then use AI to achieve automated operation of the refuelling hardware and software systems holistically, showing the outputs visually on digital twin dashboards of different resolutions (in port, regional, national etc). A core point of development will be integrating AI to manage unforeseen event such as emergencies onsite which could spike demand, or alternatively event such as storms which may greatly affect supply-side inputs. To achieve this, HydroStar is partnering with Babcock International through Devonport Royal Dockyard, London South Bank University and Southampton Marine Services. This pairs HydroStar's expertise in multi-vector control systems and hydrogen production with LSBU's expertise in hydrogen storage and compression, SMS's knowledge of vessel and plant operations, and Babcock's knowledge of port infrastructure operations.