Project Summary
The UK's target of achieving zero-emissions shipping by 2050 is driving a substantial surge in national electrical demand. The maritime sector is notably complex with extreme diversity across ports and their users.
SeaChange is a project with EMEC, PNDC, Ricardo and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution which will help develop a replicable, port-level investment model to explore transition scenarios.
This model will not only be used to help idnetify key network investment requirements, but also to inform and enable ports and their users to plot their most viable decarbonisation pathways.
Innovation Justification
SeaChange will enable maritime decarbonisation by informing strategic investment for networks, ports and their users. While the sector faces great barriers to decarbonisation, all pathways will require significant electrification -- the counterfactual is less efficient reactive network investment.
The project requires insights from a new, diverse stakeholder group (vessel operators, port owners etc ) with limited previous engagement with a DNO, which, along with the uncertainty in their decarbonisation paths (fuel types), makes this project appropriate for SIF funding.
To date, research into grid impacts of maritime decarbonisation has largely focused on the likely pathways for specific maritime sectors or vessel types. SeaChange intends to take a whole-port perspective, working directly with the port authorities and users; this approach will develop the network understanding of these new users, as well as build confidence for port stakeholders on their decarbonisation trajectory. Initially focusing on inter island ferries and cruise ship shore supplies, the project will develop a model which can then be more widely applied.
SeaChange aims to produce a useable modelling tool from Alpha stage:
Discovery -- Mapping landscape through local stakeholder engagement and data collection, focussing on two use cases (likely ferries, cruise ships); on completion, the tool is anticipated to be at CRL 3.
Alpha - Model development and validation of example port (Orkney); on completion, we anticipate the tool will have achieved CRL 4 following real-world verification with stakeholders.
Beta -- Feeding in from earlier phases, the model will be tested for accuracy, and replicability, working with additional UK ports across a wider range of vessel classes and scenarios.
Discovery phase will define transition pathways and energy needs of the sector by building detail into existing toolkits (e.g. those developed by Strathclyde University and NGET) and verifying assumptions through engagement with Orkney port stakeholders. SeaChange will then integrate port and user requirements into an investment process expanding on SSEN's LENZA LAEP+ tool for local network investment planning, signposting opportunities, e.g. for flexibility or co-location.
Our proposed approach will enable understanding of not only technical, but economic and social interactions -- critical for UK ports due to their logistical and economic significance.
Orkney faces substantial maritime demand, including 200+ cruise ships each year as well as early demonstration of electric ferries. Through EMEC, SeaChange will link with the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ), ensuring project impact beyond SIF.
Impacts and Benefits
Financial - future reductions in the cost of operating the network.
Reduced deep reinforcement costs to connect ports to provide shorepower.
Coordinated port level electrification capacity will result in a simpler system design that will be easier to monitor and maintain.
Financial - cost savings per annum on energy bills for consumers.
Reduced annual deep reinforcement costs to connect ports to provide shorepower.
Whole systems planning benefits achieved from this project will enable more accurate forward investment with lower costs from unused capacity.
Financial - cost savings per annum for users of network services.
Will review with stakeholders in Discovery.
Environmental - carbon reduction -- direct CO2 savings per annum.
Through reduced use of marine diesel.
Through reduced gas and diesel fuel to generate to meet demand from shorepower.
Environmental - carbon reduction -- indirect CO2 savings per annum.
Will review with stakeholders in Discovery.
Revenues - improved access to revenues for users of network services.
Ports using batteries to access income from flexibility services.
Revenues - creation of new revenue streams.
Larger and faster electrification of ports will require greater network investment.
New to market -- processes.
Amendments to current DNO local/regional energy planning processes will be achieved, providing greater accuracy for ports compare to current general assumptions.
New to market - services.
Whole energy systems modelling and future scenario planning tools for Port stakeholders to help them better map out viable decarbonisation pathways and investment cases.
Others that are not SIF specific.
Air quality improvements in ports and port towns and cities.
Supports vital lifeline ferry services.
Supports local employment in port.
Impacts and benefits
Ports currently lack a straightforward and accurate method to map their decarbonisation pathways and the subsequent electricity network requirements.
The SeaChange project aims to address this by creating a tool - called Navigating Energy Transitions (NET) - that will:
*Inform and enable ports and their users to map their most viable decarbonisation pathways.
*Help identify key electricity network reinforcement investment requirements.
NET's primary goal is to facilitate coordination among DNOs, ports, and other maritime stakeholders on their decarbonisation pathways, ensuring that DNOs can optimise network investment. This project has a dual benefit:
*For DNOs, it allows for optimised network planning, avoiding unnecessary reinforcement costs.
*For maritime stakeholders, it supports their net-zero efforts by providing grid access and reducing emissions.
Financial Benefits - Future reductions in the cost of operating the network, annual cost savings on energy bills for consumers, annual cost savings for users of network services.
*Initial high-level CBA Discovery calculations suggest that, network reinforcement costs could be reduced by between £315m and £619m depending on the scenario.
*Coordinated port-level electrification capacity will lead to a simpler more efficient design that is easier implement and managed compared to the current uncoordinated approach.
*Whole systems planning benefits achieved from this project will enable more accurate forward investment with lower costs.
*Encouraging more flexible use of electricity during low-demand times (e.g., EV charging for ferry and cruise passengers).
Environmental Carbon Reduction -- direct and indirect CO2 savings per annum
*Through reduced use of marine diesel.
*Through reduced gas and diesel fuel to generate electricity to meet demand from shore power. Initial CBA Discovery calculations suggest that between 5 037 tCo2e and 10 073 tCO2e could be saved by reducing fuel oil emissions on a UK scale.
*Through reduced embodied carbon from avoided reinforcement. Initial CBA Discovery calculations suggest that between 103 264 tCo2e and 247 526 tCO2e could be saved by reducing embodied carbon at the UK scale.
*Accelerated decarbonisation of ports through optimised reinforcement of the power network infrastructure.
Revenues - improved access to revenues for users of network services and creation of new revenue streams
*Ports using energy storage or flexible demand to access income from ancillary services.
New to market -- products, processes and services
*Create a new UK vessel energy hub market through introduction of significant UK shore power facilities ahead of the curve. This is amplified when linked with other maritime fuel projects, such as SIF-funded HyNTS Maritime.
*Amendments to current DNO local/regional energy planning processes will be achieved, providing greater accuracy for ports compared to current generalassumptions.
*Whole energy systems modelling and future scenario planning tools for Port stakeholders to help them better map out viable decarbonisation pathways and investment cases.
Others that are not SIF specific
*Reduced economic impact of delayed uncertainty.
*Maintain or elevate GB's position and reputation as a leading Maritime nation.
*Improve the reputation of the energy sector by working collaboratively with maritime stakeholders ( for example vessel operators and port operators) to move from a 'blocker' to facilitator of maritime decarbonisation efforts.
*Air quality improvements in ports and port towns and cities.
*Supports resilience and viability of island populations.
*Supports local employment and economic activity stimulated around port locations.
