Riviera – Forth Ports launches second hydrogen development project
The Scottish ports group intends to run another hydrogen-fuelled power generation project in its harbour to supply electricity to berthed vessels
British group Forth Ports has secured funding and approval under a UK government-backed demonstration programme to start another trial generating hydrogen from renewable resources in a UK harbour to feed power to berthed tugs.
Tugs from its subsidiary Targe Towing will be used in the pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of supplying clean power to port vessels over the long term. The trial will be carried out under a Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6) project with support from the UK Department for Transport.
Forth Ports and Targe Towing will partner with Logan Energy and PlusZero in this project to advance green hydrogen production for shore power and vessel refuelling at the Port of Leith, near Edinburgh, Scotland.
In Q1 2025, Forth Ports, Waterwhelm, Logan Energy and PlusZero demonstrated technology using wastewater and renewable energy to produce hydrogen that was then pushed through a generator for electricity, which was cabled to a berthed Targe tug in Leith.
Targe Towing commercial director Alasdair Smith, said:
Targe Towing is once again at the forefront of maritime innovation, joining Forth Ports as partners in the CMDC6 project,
“Building on the success of our hydrogen shore power demonstrator at the Port of Leith [in Q1 2025], this next phase will push boundaries even further,” he said in a social media post. “We will be exploring hydrogen refuelling for vessels and new ways to eliminate diesel emissions in port operations.”
In the first phase, Waterwhelm technology was used to convert wastewater from the treatment works site in Seafield, Edinburgh, into fresh re-use water to be used to produce hydrogen.
Logan Energy and PlusZero provided electrolysis to manufacture hydrogen using the purified water and the gas was fed into an internal combustion engine. The resulting electricity was supplied to a berthed 2019-built tugboat, Targe’s 340-gt azimuth tractor Balmerino.
Mr Smith, said:
Collaborations like this show what is possible when port operators, energy specialists and tug operators work together towards a zero-emissions future for shipping,
“Targe Towing’s involvement reflects our commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and supporting customers in meeting their net-zero goals, from harbour towage to offshore operations.”
This pilot project will again be conducted in Leith and will consider various technologies for delivering green energy to vessels in harbours. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas and other pollutants, such as NOx and particulates, that derive from diesel engines otherwise used in ports to generate onboard power.
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Riviera – Forth Ports launches second hydrogen development project, source
