Deadline: 16-Sep-2026
The UK government is inviting business-led projects to develop, deploy, and operate innovative clean maritime technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. Under the UK SHORE programme, eligible projects can request up to £30 million in grant funding for large-scale demonstrations involving clean vessels, port infrastructure, alternative fuels, battery-electric systems, shore power, and energy efficiency technologies.
About the Competition
The UK government has launched a major funding competition to support groundbreaking clean maritime demonstration projects.
The initiative is designed to accelerate the transition to a low-emission maritime sector by supporting projects that can develop, deploy, and operate innovative technologies with strong commercial and environmental potential.
This competition forms part of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme and contributes to the goals of the UK Government’s Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy. The broader aim is to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in clean maritime technology.
Focus Areas
Projects should focus on one or more of the following clean maritime technology areas:
- Alternative fuel vessels
- Alternative fuel bunkering and storage infrastructure within ports
- 100% battery electric vessels
- Vessel charging infrastructure
- Shore power and port energy infrastructure
- Vessel energy efficiency technologies
These areas are intended to support both vessel innovation and the supporting port and energy systems needed for long-term maritime decarbonisation.
Funding Information
Eligible projects must be large-scale and commercially relevant.
Key Financial Requirements
- Total project costs: Between £6 million and £60 million
- Maximum grant request per project: £30 million
- Maximum grant to a single participant: £20 million
All costs included in the application must be eligible under Innovate UK rules.
Project Timeline
Projects must follow a strict implementation and demonstration schedule.
Required Timeline
- Projects must start by 1 April 2027
- Projects must begin on the first day of the month following approval of the Grant Offer Letter
- All grant funding must be claimed by 31 December 2029
- After the funded phase, projects must complete a three-year demonstration phase without further funding support
- Demonstration period: 1 January 2030 to 31 December 2032
This means applicants need a strong plan not only for development and deployment, but also for sustained real-world operation after grant funding ends.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are open to a wide range of organisations, but projects must meet specific consortium and leadership requirements.
Who Can Apply?
- Organisations of all sizes and backgrounds are encouraged to apply
- Collaborative projects are required
- The project must be led by a UK-registered business
Required Project Partners
Collaborative projects must include relevant UK-registered partners, such as:
- Ship owners
- Manufacturers
- Operators
- Infrastructure owners
Infrastructure owners may include:
- Ports
- Harbours
- Marinas
- Inland waterways operators
- Offshore facilities
Additional Conditions
To be eligible, all funded organisations must:
- Intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK
- Ensure all proposed costs are eligible under Innovate UK funding rules
- Be able to complete both the funded delivery phase and the unfunded demonstration phase
Because of the scale of this competition, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:
- Technical readiness
- Strong consortium capability
- Commercialisation potential
- Long-term operational feasibility
Why This Competition Matters
This is a significant opportunity for UK maritime businesses and partners working on large-scale decarbonisation solutions.
The competition is especially valuable because it supports:
- Real-world deployment, not just early-stage R&D
- Infrastructure alongside vessel technology
- Long-duration demonstration of performance
- High-value projects with substantial grant support
- National climate and industrial strategy priorities
For organisations already active in maritime innovation, this can be a major route to scale.
Tips for a Strong Application
To strengthen your proposal, make sure you clearly show:
- Why the technology can meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- How the project supports maritime decarbonisation at scale
- A realistic plan for deployment and operation
- Strong alignment with one of the listed focus areas
- A credible consortium with the right UK-based delivery partners
- How the project results will be used or commercialised in the UK
- Financial and operational readiness for the 2030–2032 unfunded demonstration phase
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common issues:
- Applying without a UK-registered business lead
- Failing to include the required UK-registered maritime or infrastructure partners
- Requesting more than £30 million in grant funding
- Allocating more than £20 million to one participant
- Proposing a project outside the £6 million–£60 million cost range
- Ignoring the need for a three-year unfunded demonstration phase
- Including costs that are not eligible under Innovate UK rules
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the purpose of this UK clean maritime competition?
The competition supports business-led demonstration projects that develop and deploy innovative clean maritime technologies to reduce emissions and accelerate maritime decarbonisation.
2. How much funding can a project request?
Each project can request up to £30 million in grant funding.
3. What is the minimum and maximum project size?
Eligible projects must have total costs between £6 million and £60 million.
4. Can one participant receive the full grant amount?
No. A single participant cannot receive more than £20 million.
5. Who must lead the project?
The project must be led by a UK-registered business.
6. Are collaborative projects required?
Yes. Projects must be collaborative and include relevant UK-registered partners, such as ship owners, manufacturers, operators, or infrastructure owners.
7. What happens after grant funding ends?
Projects must complete a three-year demonstration phase from 1 January 2030 to 31 December 2032 without additional funding support.
Final Takeaway
The UK clean maritime demonstration competition is a major opportunity for UK-registered businesses and maritime partners to scale transformative decarbonisation technologies through large, real-world demonstration projects. With grants of up to £30 million, the programme is especially suited to ambitious consortia working on alternative fuels, battery-electric vessels, charging systems, shore power, and port infrastructure.
For more information, visit GOV.UK.