The UK government will provide ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, solar and electric-based marine projects with up to £30m ($40.6m) in funding.

The funding from the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) will see successful companies secure a share of the funding to support technology development.

The CMDC has already awarded over £136m ($184m) in funding to 142 organisations as part of the wider UK Shore funding. Successful projects include the demonstration of a green hydrogen shore power system at the Port of Leith in Scotland.

Ahead of the announcement in Clydeport, Maritime Minister Mike Kane said, “We’ve charted a course to Net Zero shipping by 2050 and this £30m will be crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future, so we can clean up sea travel and trade.”

The UK government claimed that investment in green fuels not only supports environmental sustainability but also contributes to economic growth and job creation, especially in coastal areas.

According to the UK parliament website, the domestic and international maritime sector contributed 7.9% of the total emissions from the UK’s transport sector in 2022.

For smaller vessels, the government wants the domestic maritime sector to achieve zero fuel lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with at least a 30% reduction by 2030 and 80% by 2040, compared to 2008 levels.