Green corridors connecting Ireland and the UK is under construction

NatPower Marine, a subsidiary of the UK’s NatPower Group, and Peel Ports Group have announced plans to create the first green shipping corridors between Ireland and the UK. This project will see the development of the UK’s first commercial electric ship charging network, supporting electric propulsion and cold ironing as part of a global network.

The initiative will implement dedicated e-ship charging infrastructure across all eight UK and Irish ports operated by Peel Ports Group. Additionally, the master plan includes installing electric cars, vans, and HGV chargers for commercial electric vehicles passing through the ports.

Currently, over 3,000 vessels cross the Irish Sea each year, emitting 230,000 tonnes of CO2, 20,000 tonnes of nitrous oxide (NOx), and 18,000 tonnes of sulphur oxide (SOx). The first routes identified for the green shipping corridors are Belfast-Heysham and Dublin-Birkenhead. These routes support Peel Ports Group’s ambition for Heysham Port in Lancashire to become the UK’s first net zero port, which has already reduced the emissions of its landside plant, equipment, and vehicles by up to 90%.

This project marks the beginning of a new £3bn ($3.81bn) global charging network planned by NatPower Marine, aiming to establish charging infrastructure at 120 port locations worldwide by 2030.

Stefano Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower Marine, stated that NatPower Marine is investing to deploy the largest global network of charging points to help solve the chicken and egg conundrum facing this industry: shipping lines cannot electrify their vessels if port charging infrastructure is not available, and ports are unable to raise capital for charging infrastructure without certainty of demand from shipping lines.