- ELIRE Infra, in partnership with its consortium collaborators, has been awarded £1 million in funding through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 6. The initiative is delivered by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, in partnership with the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), under the Department for Transport.
- The project aims to develop scalable, off-grid hydrogen-powered energy solutions capable of reducing global CO₂ emissions by 500,000 tonnes over the next decade.
ELIRE Infra, a clean infrastructure provider within the ELIRE Group, alongside its consortium partners, has successfully secured £1 million in government funding through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 6. The programme forms part of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), an initiative by the Department for Transport, and is managed by Innovate UK, a division of UK Research and Innovation.
The funding will support an in-depth feasibility study focused on the development of Hydrogen Floating Power Hubs — pioneering, off-grid micro-grids powered by hydrogen. These innovative energy solutions are designed to decarbonise port operations, reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuels, and accelerate the UK’s progress towards achieving its net zero commitments.
Led by ELIRE Infra, the “Hydrogen Floating Power Hub Feasibility Programme” will run from 13 September 2025 to 31 March 2026, evaluating the technical and commercial viability of deploying floating hydrogen power infrastructures to replace or supplement fossil-fuel-based port energy systems. Subject to a positive investment decision, the project could lead to the launch of the UK’s first fully operational Hydrogen Power Hub by 2028, marking a milestone for maritime decarbonisation and hydrogen innovation.
Over the next decade, the project aims to deliver scalable solutions capable of cutting 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions globally, while improving local air quality and resilience of port energy systems.
The award is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 6, which is investing up to £30 million in pre-deployment trials and feasibility studies to support clean maritime technologies. CMDC6 is a core component of the UK SHORE programme, which aims to establish the UK as a global leader in the design and manufacturing of clean maritime solutions.
The Consortium: Bringing Together World-Leading Expertise
The “Hydrogen Floating Powerhub – Feasibility Program” will be delivered by a consortium led by ELIRE Infra, involving:
- Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult – leading business case development, compression and storage innovation.
- Ricardo UK – advancing the hydrogen balance of plant and power conversion systems.
- Rux Energy UK – pioneering nanoporous hydrogen storage modules.
- Schneider Electric – delivering advanced electrical and automation system designs.
- Triton Anchor Europe – providing innovative mooring technologies.
- University of Strathclyde – contributing expertise in naval architecture, structural testing, and DC microgrid systems.
- Sealand Projects – responsible for transport, installation and maintenance strategies.
Together, the consortium will address the technical, regulatory, and commercial barriers to deployment, with each partner leading defined Work Packages across project management, structural design, hydrogen storage, electrical systems, platform integration, installation, and commissioning.
The feasibility study will assess a zero-emission, grid-independent shore power solution for maritime applications; the Hydrogen Floating Power Hub, a floating, self-contained, modular microgrid platform that will provide scalable shore power connectivity to large ocean-going vessels and smaller riverine e-vessels.
Workstreams include:
- Development of a low-pressure nanoporous hydrogen storage module (Rux Energy).
- Integration of the hydrogen balance of plant and power conversion systems (Ricardo).
- Design of complex AC/DC electrical architectures with renewable integration (Schneider Electric, University of Strathclyde).
- Platform naval architecture and hydrodynamic testing (University of Strathclyde, ELIRE).
- Innovative anchoring and mooring (Triton Anchor Europe).
- Transportation, installation and operational strategy (Sealand Projects).
The study will also model CAPEX, OPEX, revenue stacks, and certification pathways, moving the concept to investment readiness by Q2 2026.
“Hydrogen’s power density far exceeds that of traditional industrial batteries,” said Luke Jenkinson, Founder of ELIRE Infra. “This allows us to create cleaner, smaller-footprint energy systems that are scalable and modular, ideal for ports with space or grid constraints. We see this as a transformative step for maritime decarbonisation both in the UK and globally.”
ELIRE Infra’s Hydrogen Floating Power Hubs combine hydrogen fuel cells with other renewables such as solar and biofuel-powered microturbines to deliver up to 5MW of clean energy. Their floating, modular design allows deployment in a range of port settings – from dense urban harbours to remote coastal hubs.
Chris Carlisle, Project Lead at ELIRE Infra, commented: “This is a pivotal moment for maritime decarbonisation. The Hydrogen Floating Power Hub is not just a piece of technology; it’s a whole new energy model for ports. By integrating hydrogen storage, renewable power, and advanced microgrid systems on a floating platform, we are creating a blueprint that can be deployed globally. Working with this exceptional consortium gives us the confidence that we can deliver a commercially viable, safe, and scalable solution that will transform how ports access clean energy.”
The river Thames, one of the UK’s busiest and most strategically located urban waterways, has been identified by ELIRE Infra as a major node in the future hydrogen economy, thanks to its proximity to distribution, logistics, and industrial infrastructure.
By project completion in March 2026, the consortium expects to deliver:
- Detailed design reports for hydrogen and electrical systems ready for regulatory approval.
- Vendor-selected, costed major equipment with mitigation strategies for technical and regulatory risk.
- Platform structural and seakeeping assessments validated through testing and Class Society Approval in Principle.
- A business case that supports investment solicitation and full-scale deployment.
The Hydrogen Floating Powerhub will directly enable 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ reductions over the next decade, improve port air quality, and establish the UK as a global leader in floating clean energy systems.
Broader impacts include:
- Job creation in engineering, fabrication, operations and maintenance.
- Acceleration of hydrogen adoption across logistics and shipping supply chains.
- Replicable models for green corridors and global port electrification.
This project is part of a wider wave of clean maritime innovation enabled by the UK SHORE programme, which has allocated over £230 million since 2022 across more than 247 pioneering projects. These efforts are unlocking regional growth opportunities, promoting new industries and technologies, and strengthening the UK’s global leadership in maritime innovation.
UK SHORE projects are driving regional development through new technologies and industries, leading the decarbonisation of the UK transport sector, supporting the government’s commitment to global leadership in sustainable shipping, and showcasing the best of UK innovation nationwide.
“I’m delighted to see ELIRE Infra’s success in CMDC Round 6. Their project is an excellent example of UK led engineering and entrepreneurship within a particularly hard-to-abate transport sector. Hydrogen Floating Power Hub is led by an experienced consortium who’ll be developing zero emission hydrogen technology for port operations – a pertinent challenge and one that this group is well-placed to address.” said James Lovett, Innovation Lead for Future Maritime Technologies at Innovate UK.
Maritime Minister Mike Kane said, “It’s so exciting to see investment in green fuels and technologies spurring on skills, innovation and manufacturing across the UK, delivering on our Plan for Change missions to kickstart economic growth and become a clean energy superpower. We’ve charted a course to net zero shipping by 2050, and this £30 million will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.”
Maritime is a key sector that must find innovative solutions to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute meaningfully to the UK’s decarbonisation agenda. The UK SHORE programme plays a pivotal role in enabling an industry-led transition to Net Zero while unlocking sustainable economic growth, supporting the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
ELIRE Infra’s project is one of many UK SHORE demonstration projects showcasing their technologies across the UK in 2025, involving a variety of vessel types and new infrastructure in ports and harbours.
