Belfast Harbour will become a live testbed for zero-emission transport and energy technologies after a £15m investment.
The funding, from UK Research and Innovation’s Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, will support the Zero Emissions Transport and Energy Cluster (ZETEC), led by Belfast based Artemis Technologies.
ZETEC will connect electric vessels, high-power marine charging, autonomous transport and energy systems through secure digital twin technology.
Testing clean technology in a working port
The project will test the technologies as an integrated system in an operational port setting, rather than in isolated laboratory conditions.
Partners say this will generate evidence on real-world performance and help reduce barriers to commercial adoption.
The approach is designed to show how clean transport and renewable energy can work together.
A digital network will help match energy supply with demand, including the substantial energy needs of Belfast Harbour.
Dr Iain Percy OBE, Chief Executive of Artemis Technologies, said the digital network would help match electricity demand with the availability of renewable energy.
For example, when wind generation is strong, electric vessels and suitable harbour operations could be scheduled to use more electricity. When renewable output falls, flexible demand could potentially be reduced or rescheduled.
He said this approach could help make better use of renewable electricity, reduce the need to curtail generation and potentially lower energy costs.
What the £15million investment will support
The investment will bring together expertise from advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology and cyber security.
Key elements of ZETEC include:
- Electric vessels tested in a working port environment
- High-power marine charging infrastructure to support the electrification of maritime transport
- Autonomous transport technologies to explore new approaches to moving people and goods
- Secure digital twin systems to model and coordinate transport and energy demand
- Real-world evidence to help assess performance and support the commercial adoption of zero-emission technologies
Artemis Technologies is leading delivery, with partners including Belfast Harbour, Digital Catapult / UK Digital Twin Centre, the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies.
A model for other regional ports
Belfast Harbour’s role as a live demonstration site could help prove that zero-emission vessels, renewable power and smart energy management can operate together at scale.
If successful, the project could provide a practical blueprint for ports, local authorities and transport operators seeking to cut emissions while improving energy efficiency and resilience.
Dr Percy said the value of the Belfast project is that it could be "rinsed and repeated anywhere else", in Northern Ireland and beyond.
