Dock to Dock (D2D) Hydrogen eVTOL Freight Transportation

Dock-to-Dock ("D2D") is a pilot project focused on the combined aspects of route development, vehicle performance (air & sea) and the associated infrastructure ("Smart-Multiports"). These basics are necessary for the point-to-point delivery of goods and freight between coastal cities using zero emission Hydrogen fuel technology for eVTOL aircraft (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and eAZE ships (electric Autonomous Zero Emission). Neoptera Aero Ltd, Smart Ports Ltd, Cardiff University and the University of the West of England, Bristol are developing the concept of Smart-Multiports (SMP) and D2D applications with the Hydrogen ("H2") ground infrastructure required, initially for the transport of freight/cargo of up to 500kg by eVTOL, to operate between Avonmouth Docks, Bristol and Cardiff Docks, Wales.

D2D will demonstrate a commercially competitive alternative to ground transportation between coastal cities, with the use of unmanned winged eVTOL for the fast transport of high value goods. The transportation of bulky and less time-sensitive goods will be in eAZE ships. D2D will offload the already saturated ground transportation network between ports such as Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol and Bridgewater. With further development, D2D and its SMP infrastructure could be a major supplier of Green H2 to Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea airports, as commercial aircraft designers such as Airbus and Roll Royce race to develop Hydrogen-powered sub-regional aircraft. This infrastructure will encompass the entire System of Systems for autonomous air and marine operations between ports. The objective of D2D is to repurpose port infrastructures to be an essential component of future Smart Cities in their drive towards zero emissions and energy efficient, integrated and sustainable transportation solutions. Focusing upon a specific route development that already has infrastructure associated with maritime trade, D2D can address specific vehicle parameters and the ground-based infrastructure for H2 air and marine refuelling. 40% of the world's population lives within 60mile of the coast, with the average population density in coastal areas about twice the world's average population density, and 14 of the world's 17 largest cities are on coasts. As population density and economic activity in coastal zone increases, so does pressures on land-based transport systems.

There are 120 commercial seaports in the UK representing 10% of all EU ports. The UK has 296 small-to-large size airports of which 40 handle commercial carriers. Comparatively, the EU has 4,649 small & medium airports.

Presently, there are only 11 commercial Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) in the UK, and none West of Swindon, with only one experimental HRS in Wales at Baglan, run by University of South Wales. The EU already has 177 public HRS's, with another 43 in immediate construction. Germany, France, Italy, Norway and Spain are allotting significant financial and R&D resources to the development and use of Hydrogen in their efforts to meet climate change goals and zero emissions. Critically, many more HRS are urgently needed if the UK is to meet its zero emissions targets through the production and use of Hydrogen in heating, industry, power generation and transport. The D2D project and development of the SMP infrastructure will bring access to HRS in the South West of England and Wales. This project, in conjunction with initiatives lead by the Welsh Government, Western-Gateway Powerhouse, WECA and various West of England & Wales Green Hydrogen production sources (Nuclear, Tidal, Offshore wind, and biomass), will facilitate the UK to export its know-how around the world.