Project Summary
Today, the boats, docks, and ports operating on the Thames run mostly on fossil fuels, but this is changing as the river's economy decarbonises in response to climate change. There is limited understanding how this shift will affect the electricity network and that's why we've created the Electric Thames project.
Working together with multiple stakeholders, we will map out the future of the electricity system around the Thames and explore new technologies such as Boat-to-Grid (B2G) services. The outcomes will shape a whole-system planning framework for our waterways, offering insights for decarbonisation and electrification that can be replicated across GB.
Innovation Justification
The project creates an innovative, integrated energy system and maritime decarbonisation plan, understanding the impacts of decarbonising vessels, docks and quays. The key innovations are:
Understanding the options to decarbonise the Thames traffic and operations through electrification and use of hydrogen, and assessing the impact on the distribution network including:
· Electrical loads to support vessel charging and shore power (vessels using power provided by cables from shore, rather than running engines);
· Utilising B2G technology to enable service provision and additional revenue streams;
· Optimising and speeding up network connections to accelerate B2G technology deployment.
Using the Thames to transport 'floating batteries' charging and discharging at different times and locations to manage network constraints.
Using grid-scale batteries to offer flexible, high-speed charging for vessels to ensure resilient operation.
Developing a coordinated plan to decarbonise the Thames, that works for users and reduces cost of delivering a secure and reliable network for river authorities, vessel operators, dock and quay owners, leading to a framework for decarbonisation of all waterways.
Discovery Phase will capture and leverage learnings from previous and ongoing relevant work. We are aware of early trials of B2G technologies, such as Aqua superpower and early-stage shore power, but none being widely deployed. Our whole-system approach will accelerate vessel charging, shore power and bring B2G benefits for river users and the electricity system.
For B2G technologies, we estimate IRL to be proprietary -- IRL1; CRL4; TRL3.These levels will not change during Discovery but will likely develop in future phases.
Considerable investment, engagement and innovation is required to develop a solution to decarbonise Britain's waterways in a secure and economic manner, which would not be achievable as part of business-as-usual activity, due to complexity and widespread nature of challenges and benefits. Participation in SIF will enhance opportunities for stakeholders across multiple sectors in engaging with the project. Significant groundwork, such as feasibility studies and limited scale trials, must be undertaken before any scalable or widespread deployment is carried out, which is suited to the structure of SIF phases.
Alternative approaches to decarbonising waterways but would likely involve significant build out of energy infrastructure at many exit points, with maritime and energy system planning conducted in isolation, potentially delaying decarbonisation. This view is supported by the early-stage decarbonisation plan by the PLA, that offers no clear route that understands the impact of decarbonisation of the Thames on the wider energy system.
Impacts and Benefits
Pre-innovation baseline considers vessels, docks and quays extensively using fossil fuels and slow, poorly planned electrification of some operations.
Financial - future reductions in the cost of operating the network
Reducing peak demand from electrification of the Thames waterway through flexibility services will reduce the need for network capacity reinforcement. During peak demand periods, electric vessels can supply electricity to the distribution network, helping to balance the load.
Metric: Avoided / deferred reinforcement cost
Financial - cost savings per annum on energy bills for consumers
Lower costs of upgrading the infrastructure and operating the network will reduce the network cost element of consumer bills for all consumers.
Metric: Annual customer bill savings
Environmental -- carbon reduction -- direct CO2 savings per annum
Optimising network investment for decarbonisation of the Thames can enable faster and cheaper roll-out of low carbon river operations, displacing the existing fossil fuel-based fleet and therefore achieving immediate reduction in directCO2 emissions.
Metric: Tonnes CO2 reduction per annum
Environmental -- carbon reduction -- indirect CO2 savings per annum
Battery-electric and green hydrogen are expected to be the biggest means of decarbonisation of the PLA's operation in the long-term. Incorporating the flexible aspect of both technologies and coordinating the roll-out with the local development plans will release additional capacity for renewable generation on the distribution network, therefore achieving indirect reduction in CO2emissions.
Metric: Tonnes CO2 reduction per annum
Revenues - improved access to revenues for users of network services
Electric Thames enables vessel owners and dock operators to benefit financially by participating in grid services, such as participating in demand response programs. This can potentially generate revenue for vehicle owners, incentivising their participation in B2G programs to support the grid.
Metrics: Revenue gained from participating in flexibility markets.
New to market -- processes
Electric Thames will accelerate the technical, integration and commercial readiness of B2G solutions that make decarbonising river traffic more economic whilst also supporting economic infrastructure upgrades to support decarbonisation on the Thames.
Metric: Replication across GB to unlock wider benefits beyond UKPN area.
