Net Zero Ports of the Future: Demonstrating the Integration of Green Hydrogen Shore Power with Water Reuse

Ports are a significant component of the UK economy, contributing £7.5 billion annually and supporting around 119,000 jobs across the country. Despite anticipated deployment of alternative fuels at ports, their total electricity demand is to increase significantly by 2050\. The UK's Department for Transport estimates that total annual electricity demand at UK ports will rise from 20GWh in 2016 to around 250GWh by 2050, with shore power contributing to 200GWh of demand. Further, emissions at birth represent ~16% of ships' carbon emissions, 13% of NOx and 11% of PM10\. The vision of Forth Ports is to create Scotland's largest renewable hub, reducing carbon footprint and the footprint of ship owners. The port aims to re-industrialise central Scotland and bring up to 50,000 high-quality green jobs. The port is expected to see an increase in vessels, including a 50% rise in cruise ships, with significant economic benefits to the UK. Thus, power demand and need for decarbonisation at ports represents a major challenge and opportunity to the maritime sector.

Following on from a successfully delivered Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 feasibility study, HyBunk, Targe Towing (Forth Ports subsidiary) will partner with Waterwhelm, Logan Energy and PlusZero to deliver a state-of-the-art demonstrator system at the Port of Leith for the production of hydrogen for shore power. Seafield wastewater treatment works (WWTW) is situated immediately next to Port of Leith and is where Waterwhelm has its low carbon footprint, waste heat powered forward osmosis technology for water re-use and desalination. Waterwhelm will use treated wastewater from Seafield WWTW, that is ordinarily ejected into the sea, combined with waste heat from PlusZero's zero emissions hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) generator to produce freshwater for Logan Energy's electrolyser for hydrogen production. The produced hydrogen will be used in PlusZero's HICE generator to produce on-demand electricity for shore power at peak times as an alternative to the fossil fuel (diesel) powered generators. This will re-establish the Port of Leith as a renewable hub for new innovative technologies for the maritime sector. The use of waste heat from PlusZero's HICE and treated wastewater from WWTW for the process is a circular economy, zero waste approach that shows how technologies and adjacent industries can support each other to efficiently produce hydrogen for decarbonisation of ports and contribute to the UK net-zero goals.