Cox joins an eco-friendly marine consortium to showcase the world’s first diesel-hydrogen outboard
British diesel technology innovator Cox Marine has joined SHAPE UK, a consortium seeking to transform Portsmouth International Port into the UK’s first zero-emission maritime hub.
As part of this project, Cox will work with the University of Brighton to convert one of the company’s CXO300 diesel outboard engines into a dual-fuel hydrogen engine and to demonstrate its operation in a port environment.
The conversion and demonstration are part of the wider Hydrogen & Port Ecosystems UK (SHAPE UK) project, which aims to show a workable modular system for generating green hydrogen within Portsmouth International Port (PIP).
Maritime operations are fundamental to the efficient circulation of goods nationally and globally, but they often contribute heavily to CO2 emissions and air pollution. The adoption of decentralised energy systems offers the possibility of supporting the necessary transition of ports and their operations to zero emissions.
The SHAPE project will consist of:
• Addressing the feasibility of a local hydrogen infrastructure through the installation of a modular hydrogen electrolyser, and related testing
• Demonstrating a use case for hydrogen in port operations through the dual-fuel Cox outboard
• Generating a digital twin of the port as a tool to determine the economic and environmental suitability of deploying H2 systems within major ports for stakeholders
• Assessing the regulatory landscape for the generation and use of hydrogen in a port environment to determine where deployment can happen immediately and where regulations need to be addressed.
Tim Routsis, CEO of Cox Powertrain, said: “I am delighted that Cox has been invited to take part in SHAPE UK. I consider the development of effective, usable hydrogen-based marine propulsion systems essential if we are to reduce emissions while continuing to provide essential transport systems. This is an area in which the UK is excellently positioned to develop the technologies and infrastructure that will reduce pollutants and create a new, vibrant UK-based economic sector. ”
James Eatwell, Head of Research and Development at Cox Powertrain, who leads the SHAPE project for Cox, said: “The maritime sector as a whole, and Cox in particular, recognise the need to make a positive contribution to the significant challenges of reducing global CO2 emissions. From Cox’s point of view, hydrogen represents a very promising option for reducing marine CO2 emissions and we are delighted to be part of this exciting project, which brings together a complete set of skills from across the sector.”
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