A step change for zero-emission workboats?
Aqua superPower has become a technical partner of the Zero Emissions Network of Workboats (ZENOW) project, which aims to deliver a step change in zero-emission workboat operations.
ZENOW is a partnership of 15 UK marine businesses and organisations, led by RS Electric Boats.
“Our participation in the ZENOW project will demonstrate our technology readiness and our ability to deploy the critical and reliable infrastructure required for harbours to service electric boats in a commercial setting,” said Alex Bamberg, CEO of Aqua superPower.
”Most importantly, with the data that is collected and the collaboration of the various partners, this project will provide real-use cases and open the market for electric work vessels globally.”
Step change
The project will deploy the world’s largest network of electric workboats (20 electric workboats, powered by five new Aqua SuperPower chargers), code them ready for service and then, during and after a three-year period, analyse the data to provide evidence, advice and support to those getting ready to switch to electric.
These electric workboats, which include thirteen Pulse 63s, five 7.9m and two 8.9m Cheetah Marine electric workboats, powered by RAD Propulsion’s RAD 40 and RAD 120 drives, will be delivered to ten UK locations by 1 March 2025.
The project includes a three-year demonstration phase with various partners operating the vessels in representative environments. Sea trial data will form part of the partners’ detailed work to understand and develop how electric boats are used in practice, for example, by providing data on exact duty cycles and usage patterns.
This data will enable ZENOW to advise on adopting electric technology in a maritime environment and help shape other geographical electric networks.
The 20 boats will be connected virtually, with the project’s technology partners, RAD Propulsion and Aqua superPower, delivering fleet-wide monitoring systems to collect operational and performance data. Data analytics will also be published by the University of Plymouth and used to enable partners to enhance their environmental performance, optimise operations, reduce costs, and grow their businesses.
Falmouth Harbour already has four vessels tasked with patrols, supporting novel technologies and scientific work and mooring checks. It’ll receive an RS Electric Pulse as part of the project and says that participating will help to demonstrate and build confidence in new clean technology while reducing other environmental impacts such as noise and pollution.
ZENOW is part of the Zero Emissions Vessels and Infrastructure competition (ZEVI), which was announced in February 2023, funded by UK government and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
As part of ZEVI, the Department for Transport allocated over £80m (€92 million) to 10 flagship projects supported by 52 organisations from across the UK to deliver real-world demonstration R&D projects in clean maritime solutions. Projects will take place in multiple locations from the Orkney Isles to the southwest of England.
