UK plans first green shipping corridor

The corridor is being developed as part of the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) and will link the ports of Dover, Calais and Dunkirk.

As a key technical partner, Schneider Electric will assess green energy options for vessels both on land and sea, as well as build a digital twin of the Port of Dover’s electrical infrastructure to enable development and testing of new shore-based power facilities.

Peter Selway, segment marketing manager at Schneider Electric, said: “The port is a vital link between the UK and Europe, accounting for more than a third of trade and most of the UK’s ferry traffic.

“Decarbonising this critical shipping channel will reduce maritime greenhouse gas emissions and provide a blueprint for other ports to follow.”

Schneider Electric has already helped the Port of Dover with phase 1 of the CMDC, supporting the technological development necessary to reduce carbon emissions as part of the Port of Dover Air Quality Action Plan.

Megan Turner, environment and sustainability manager at the Port of Dover, said: “The Port of Dover is the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, processing tens of thousands of passengers, cars, lorries and other vehicles every day.

“Some ferries operating from the port are being upgraded to run on electric batteries and other forms of renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions. This is a key part of our work to place Dover at the vanguard of decarbonisation within the UK port industry, with the ambition to become the world’s first high-volume green shipping corridor.”