CoastalCorre

Developing a modular charging hub for electric vessels
Orkney
Project title: CoastalCorre
Funded by: Innovate UK
Competition name: Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) Round 6
Project duration: 2025–2026
Project partners: (lead), ¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú, , ,
¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú staff: Dr Keri Collins , Sarah Fear  
 
CoastalCorre is a feasibility study investigating the development of a modular charging hub to support the transition to electric vessels in coastal waters. The concept aims to provide a practical alternative to traditional shore-based charging, which is often constrained by grid capacity, tidal conditions, and limited shoreline space.
The proposed hub will combine renewable energy generation, redox battery storage, and advanced power conversion systems within a scalable floating mooring platform. This platform will be designed to deliver rapid charging directly at sea, closer to where vessels operate.
The study will assess how this system could be applied along green maritime corridors in Orkney, where fishing and marine tourism vessels frequently operate in areas with restricted access to electrical infrastructure.
The project will:
  • Develop a tested platform design.
  • Examine commercial models.
  • Produce a costed plan for a future full-scale demonstrator, with the view for deployment by 2028.
While the case study focuses on Orkney, the findings will be relevant for other remote and energy-constrained coastal regions across the UK.
Coast Lab
The ¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú is contributing specialist research and testing expertise to support the CoastalCorre project, focusing on providing experimental data and environmental assessment to inform the design, scalability, and sustainability of the modular charging hub.
Key research areas:
Scale model testing of the pontoon and mooring system
  • Conducted at the University's COAST Laboratory , using controlled physical modelling.
  • Tests will help identify the range of environmental conditions under which safe and reliable charging can occur.
  • Research will also examine feasible mooring arrangements, the effects of extreme conditions, and methods to prevent mooring damage.
Impacts of modularity and scalability
  • Scale model testing will assess how modular construction affects system performance and resilience.
  • Findings will guide project partners on how to expand or adapt the charging hub for different deployment sites.
Life cycle assessment
  • The University will investigate the overall environmental impact of the charging hub.
  • This will include an evaluation of potential greenhouse gas reductions, supporting evidence for the environmental benefits of the design.
 

Trailblazing clean maritime innovation

At ¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú, we are among the UK's leading proponents of clean maritime research, with a track record in consistently securing government funding through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.
Through engagement with business and the wider scientific community, we are co-creating ways of transforming this research into practical solutions to challenges faced by the marine and maritime sectors.
 
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Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy 

In response to climate change imperatives, we are bringing together a critical mass of leading research and expertise from across the ¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú. Through co-creation and collaboration with partners from business, government and key communities from across the globe, the Centre aims to be a beacon for the University’s whole-system transdisciplinary approach to solutions-oriented research, accelerating sustainable developments in decarbonisation and renewable energy.
 
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