From Policy Ambition to Practical Action. Real-World Pathways to Net Zero.
Blog by Paul Tallon (Innovation Manager – Mersey Maritime) and Simon Eardley (Head of Policy and Innovation, Mersey Maritime)
The Solutions for Decarbonisation Investments in Maritime SMEs event, hosted by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) at its Tithebarn City Campus on 28 January 2026, provided a timely and highly practical exploration of how maritime businesses, can meaningfully engage with decarbonisation today, rather than viewing it as a distant or unattainable ambition. The event was part of the EPSRC funded Maritime and Last Mile (MaLaMi) Place Based Impact Accelerator Account project.
The workshop brought together academia, policymakers, innovators and industry practitioners to examine the current state of adoption of decarbonisation initiatives, addressing both the structural challenges faced by businesses and the commercially viable “quick wins” that can be implemented immediately.
Understanding the Real Barriers to Decarbonisation
A consistent theme throughout the event was the recognition that decarbonisation is not hindered by a lack of intent, but often by financial, organisational and temporal pressures, particularly acute for SMEs.
Speakers highlighted the challenges of:
• Capital-intensive technologies with long payback periods
• Uncertainty around future fuel pathways
• Disruption risks during deployment and integration
• The difficulty of aligning investment decisions with rapidly evolving policy and funding landscapes
However, rather than focusing solely on these constraints, the event placed strong emphasis on what is practicable now identifying commercially sound decisions that businesses can take today to reduce emissions while maintaining competitiveness.
Quick Wins and Scalable Impact
One of the most valuable insights from the session was the idea that incremental, distributed action, when taken across SMEs and large organisations alike, can have a material and immediate impact on regional decarbonisation outcomes.
When viewed collectively, these measures could significantly accelerate progress toward the Liverpool City Region’s 2035 Net Zero targets, as outlined by Alex Naughton from the Liverpool City Region CA, while reducing risk exposure for individual businesses.
These “quick wins” included:
• Operational efficiency improvements
• Electrification of inshore and short-sea vessels
• Smarter energy use at berth
• Data-driven optimisation of vessel and port operations.
Electrification Over Hydrogen, A Clear Signal
A particularly notable insight from the discussions was the growing consensus around electrification, especially for inshore and port-based vessels, as a more immediate and cost-effective pathway than hydrogen in many use cases.
Key points included:
• Electric vessel charging overnight can reduce energy costs by up to 40%
• Current fuel costs were cited at approximately £0.60 per kWh, reinforcing the economic case for electrification
• 3MW charging infrastructure is emerging as a realistic requirement for certain vessel classes
• The distinction between charging infrastructure and shore power was highlighted as a critical investment consideration, with different cost, grid and operational implications
The concept of cold ironing—using grid-connected power, battery storage or hydrogen storage while vessels are at berth – was discussed as a flexible solution, particularly when paired with intelligent energy management systems.
Energy Storage, Demand Flexibility and Revenue Opportunities
Insights from Marine Zero, including contributions from Tim Munn, provided a real-world perspective on live operational deployments using AIS-enabled systems to optimise:
• Berth allocation
• Electronic charging schedules
• Energy demand smoothing
These examples illustrated how grid-connected energy storage can play a dual role:
• Reducing emissions and peak demand
• Creating new revenue streams by storing energy at low-cost periods and exporting it during peak pricing windows
The importance of demand flexibility was also emphasised, with DESNZ actively seeking clearer signals from industry on how ports and vessel operators can support a more responsive energy system.
Policy Alignment and Funding Convergence
Another strong message from the event was the high degree of alignment currently emerging between:
• The Liverpool City Region Climate Action Plan
• The Local Growth Plan
• The Northern Growth Strategy
• The National Industrial Strategy
This alignment is creating a fertile environment for innovation, particularly when combined with major funding and programme mechanisms such as:
• EU Horizon funding streams, including Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) partnerships
• The Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions (N0MES) Centre for Doctoral Training
• The MaLaMi PBIAA project itself, which the workshop was part of
• Future UK SHORE funding rounds, including the next Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC7).
If effectively coordinated and delivered, these initiatives could significantly compress delivery timelines, enabling the region to reach decarbonisation milestones far sooner than previously anticipated.
The forthcoming Integrated Settlement for the LCR Combined Authority and place-based funding for Active Travel England (£1.6bn) were also highlighted as complementary levers that can support wider transport and port decarbonisation objectives.
Ports of the Future, Integrated, Digital and Low-Carbon
The event concluded with a forward-looking discussion on “Ports of the Future”, envisioned as integrated systems where:
• Digital innovation underpins operational efficiency
• Energy systems are flexible, intelligent and low-carbon
• Air quality, tourism, cruise operations and logistics are treated as interconnected challenges rather than isolated issues
This systems-based view strongly echoed themes emerging from Mersey Maritime’s Navigating Maritime Innovation project, reinforcing the need for joined-up thinking across technology, policy, skills and infrastructure. Decarbonisation findings and insights from the NMI project were detailed to the workshop in the context of the wider innovation opportunities and pipeline of current and future projects associated with this area which have been identified through our stakeholder engagement and research.
Conclusion
The LJMU MaLaMi workshop demonstrated that decarbonisation in the maritime sector is no longer a theoretical exercise. Practical solutions exist today, provided they are supported by clear policy signals, accessible funding pathways and collaborative innovation ecosystems.
By focusing on achievable actions, leveraging digital tools, and aligning investment with regional and national strategies, the Liverpool City Region is well positioned to lead the transition toward a cleaner, smarter and more resilient maritime economy.
Find out more about MaLaMi, including funding calls, here: www.ljmu.ac.uk/projects/malami
