The Department for Transport-(DfT) estimates total annual electricity demand at UK ports will rise from 20GWh(2016) to ~250GWh(2050), with shore power contributing demanding over 200GWh. Emissions at berth represent ~16% of ships' carbon emissions, 13% of Nox, 11% of PM10\. Hydrogen is integral to DfT's recent Maritime decarbonisation strategy(2025), requiring sound regulatory framework. Whilst UK government commits to decarbonisation, driving uptake of hydrogen (zero emissions fuels). UK ports are positioned to serve as green hydrogen hubs, using hydrogen for shore power and hydrogen vessels. Currently stifled by significant infrastructure and hydrogen compliance challenges. During Innovate UK CMDC4, Forth Ports accelerated its ambition for decarbonisation and to drive the Port of Leith to become one of the first hydrogen producing hubs. Supporting project partners, Waterwhelm, PlusZero Power, Logan Energy, and Forth Ports subsidiary Targe Towing Limited, to deliver a successful project for the production, storage and utilisation of green hydrogen for shore power. The CMDC4 project was funded by UK Government through the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme in the Department for Transport. UK SHORE has allocated over £200m since 2022 to develop the technologies necessary to decarbonise the UK maritime sector and capture the economic growth opportunity of the transition. Now, Forth Ports in CMDC6 will join the collaborative as a partner, to take the implemented solution to the next stage of development in a pre-deployment trial. This innovative project will utilise both waste water and waste heat at the port to produce water for sustainable hydrogen production. Hydrogen will be used for on-demand shore power instead of diesel generators (currently used by vessels at peak times) and hydrogen shoreside refuelling. The transferrable, and valuable, learnings will raise the potential of hydrogen for ports' decarbonisation across the UK. A strategic business plan will inform use cases for hydrogen and the technology at UK ports, supported by Forth Ports as end user. Continuing to raise the local and international reputation of Forth Ports and the project partners, whilst providing clear direction for where the new fully integrated system can be deployed beyond the Port of Leith identified as a the post-project scale-up site. The project represents significant value in hydrogen development for the UK, whilst implementation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the air quality at ports for port works and vessel operators.

Ports are a significant component of the UK economy, contributing £7.5 billion annually and supporting around 119,000 jobs across the country. Despite anticipated deployment of alternative fuels at ports, their total electricity demand is to increase significantly by 2050\. The UK's Department for Transport estimates that total annual electricity demand at UK ports will rise from 20GWh in 2016 to around 250GWh by 2050, with shore power contributing to 200GWh of demand. Further, emissions at birth represent ~16% of ships' carbon emissions, 13% of NOx and 11% of PM10\. The vision of Forth Ports is to create Scotland's largest renewable hub, reducing carbon footprint and the footprint of ship owners. The port aims to re-industrialise central Scotland and bring up to 50,000 high-quality green jobs. The port is expected to see an increase in vessels, including a 50% rise in cruise ships, with significant economic benefits to the UK. Thus, power demand and need for decarbonisation at ports represents a major challenge and opportunity to the maritime sector. Following on from a successfully delivered Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 2 feasibility study, HyBunk, Targe Towing (Forth Ports subsidiary) will partner with Waterwhelm, Logan Energy and PlusZero to deliver a state-of-the-art demonstrator system at the Port of Leith for the production of hydrogen for shore power. Seafield wastewater treatment works (WWTW) is situated immediately next to Port of Leith and is where Waterwhelm has its low carbon footprint, waste heat powered forward osmosis technology for water re-use and desalination. Waterwhelm will use treated wastewater from Seafield WWTW, that is ordinarily ejected into the sea, combined with waste heat from PlusZero's zero emissions hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) generator to produce freshwater for Logan Energy's electrolyser for hydrogen production. The produced hydrogen will be used in PlusZero's HICE generator to produce on-demand electricity for shore power at peak times as an alternative to the fossil fuel (diesel) powered generators. This will re-establish the Port of Leith as a renewable hub for new innovative technologies for the maritime sector. The use of waste heat from PlusZero's HICE and treated wastewater from WWTW for the process is a circular economy, zero waste approach that shows how technologies and adjacent industries can support each other to efficiently produce hydrogen for decarbonisation of ports and contribute to the UK net-zero goals.