Innovative UK has given a £4.6 million grant to a clean energy project run by UK battery expert AceOn.

The RESTORE initiative intends to position the UK as a global leader in marine renewable technology and fuel a sustainable future for the maritime industry.

Innovative strategies for transitioning crew transfer vessels from diesel to battery and hydrogen power will be developed using the government grant. The project will test methods for retrofitting offshore crew transportation vessels with environmentally friendly hydrogen and battery technologies to eliminate the requirement for fossil fuels.

Beginning in April 2023, RESTORE will be led by AceOn on behalf of a group of companies and institutions that includes Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, Engas Global, Liverpool John Moores University, Newcastle University, Taurus Engineering, CAGE, and others.

The Princess Royal, a catamaran meant to ferry specialists to the EDF offshore wind farm in the North Sea, will serve as the study’s test vessel. The Department of Transport has given the RESTORE project funding as part of its Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitive, which was administered by Innovative UK in September of last year.