Photo by Venti Views
The UK has begun installing infrastructure for its first electric shipping routes, with NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group set to commence installation of shore power at Heysham port this month. The groundbreaking initiative will create green shipping corridors between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, enabling all Heysham routes within the Irish Sea to operate with zero emissions while at berth and at sea.
The project represents the first part of the full electrification of the Irish Sea, with the first plug going live in 2026 and expansion to four plugs across all berths. The investment is expected to total around £10 million for the Heysham installation alone.
Significant emissions reductions projected
Once all four berths at Heysham are electrified, the infrastructure will enable vessels on Irish Sea routes to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 10,000 tonnes per year, alongside significant reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx).
When fully rolled out across all Peel Ports Group locations, shore power could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 166,800 tonnes every year, alongside 2,180 tonnes of NOx, 1,060 tonnes of SO2, and 470 tonnes of methane.
Industry leaders herald green shipping milestone
Martin Olverson, Development Director Marine of NatPower Marine, said: “This project embodies our commitment to sustainable growth. Heysham is where the UK’s first green shipping corridor becomes real. One plug will soon become four, serving every Heysham route to Ireland and giving operators the confidence to move quickly on vessel electrification.”
Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director of Peel Ports Group, commented: “Collaboration and innovation are key. This project goes beyond environmental goals; it supports the broader economic ambitions of the UK.”
£100m partnership drives wider rollout
The Heysham initiative forms part of a wider £100 million partnership between NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group to roll out e-ship charging infrastructure for operators across Great Britain and Ireland. NatPower Marine is developing partnerships with other ports and shipping operators in the area to expand the network.
The investment supports the UK Government’s industrial and economic growth objectives through more sustainable passenger and freight routes, positioning the UK as a leader in shipping decarbonisation technology.
Addressing massive decarbonisation challenge
The initiative addresses the scale of the global shipping industry’s environmental impact. The sector produces 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than the emissions of Germany, as well as 14% of global nitrogen oxides and 17% of global sulphur oxides.
To decarbonise the shipping industry, 4 petawatt-hours (PWh) of clean energy per year is needed – equal to the annual electricity consumption of the USA. NatPower Marine is addressing this challenge by deploying infrastructure for e-ship charging, specifically for propulsion and cold ironing.
Clean energy integration planned
To ensure the energy used at ports is clean, NatPower is developing over 12.5 GW of clean energy GigaParks projects in the UK, with 100 GWh of battery storage capacity crucial for balancing intermittent demand from electric ship requirements.
These GigaParks will provide stable, clean electricity to NatPower Marine’s UK port network via direct Power Purchasing Agreements or private wires, ensuring the entire system operates on renewable energy.
Transformative impact for air quality
The project demonstrates the scale of impact that port electrification can deliver in improving air quality and driving decarbonisation across the UK’s busiest shipping routes. The emissions reductions will particularly benefit communities around major ports and shipping lanes.
As shipping lines increasingly look to electrify both at-port operations and at-sea propulsion in response to tightening regulations, the Heysham installation provides a crucial proof of concept for scalable shore power infrastructure across the UK and internationally.
The project positions the Irish Sea as a testbed for zero-emission ferry operations, potentially serving as a model for other busy shipping corridors across Europe and beyond as the maritime industry accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels.