To build the “world’s first” zero-emission multi-fuel station (ZEMFS) for electric and hydrogen-powered ships, the UK government is providing financing to a partnership.

The innovative station, which is anticipated to go into operation at the Port of Tyne in the UK by March 2025, intends to employ liquid hydrogen as the foundation for three different fueling methods for small craft: liquid hydrogen, compressed gaseous hydrogen, and electric charging.

Although the consortium has said that the ZEMFS is “completely scalable” to fuel any size vessel and is adaptable to any port, the pilot project will concentrate on finding a solution to fuel vessels that are under 24 meters in length.

The consortium is led by Unitrove, which announced in 2021 that it would deliver a liquid hydrogen bunkering facility for zero-emission shipping. Other members of the consortium include ACUA Ocean, Zero Emissions Maritime Technology (ZEMTech), the University of Strathclyde, and Orkney College UHI. MJR Power & Automation, Orkney College UHI, and the Port of Tyen also provide support.

According to Unitrove, the project has received “thousands of pounds” from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 (CMDC2), which gave over £14 million ($15.9 million) to 31 projects for feasibility studies and joint research and development projects in clean maritime solutions.