Coastal Workboats: E-LUV, a UK-first, MCA certified, fully electric inter-island workboat demonstration supported by Shore Power Storage to prove commercially viable, including in remote locations
A diesel workboat in the Outer Hebrides will be replaced with a fully electric vessel and a shore-based rapid charging station, in a four-week demonstration of whether electric propulsion can work for commercial marine operations. Shipping accounts for 3.4% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, and a standard diesel workboat emits 23.3 kg of CO₂ per mile—roughly 181.5 tonnes per year. Electric boats produce no CO₂, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, or nitrogen oxides, and also reduce ocean acidification. But electric workboats have never been demonstrated commercially, because they face three obstacles: fast turnaround charging, lack of grid power in remote areas, and integrated design of batteries, propulsion, and hull. Fire safety regulations for improved battery cells are also still pending approval. If the demonstration succeeds, the E-LUV vessel will become the UK’s first certified electric workboat, running twice daily between Leverburgh and Berneray (60 minutes one way), then working a fish farm in Ullapool. The project team is working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to develop a new regulatory framework for electric workboats. This could open the door to electrifying the thousands of small commercial vessels that serve remote islands, fish farms, and coastal infrastructure—places where diesel is currently the only option.
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UK-based SME Coastal Workboats Ltd (CWL) and Coastal Workboats Scotland (CWS) will come together to deliver a UK-first demonstration of a fully-electric workboat and charging station. Shipping (international and domestic) is responsible for 3.4% of the UK's GHG emissions (DfT, 2019). A standard diesel vessel produces 23.3kg CO2/mile, translating into 181.5t CO2/year. Electric boat propulsion is emission-free, bypassing CO2, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides emissions, having an additional impact at reducing ocean acidification. Electric powered boats are currently restricted to pleasure boats as there has been no demonstration of an electric workboat. The challenges workboats face are: -Charging: fast ferry turnaround requiring rapid charging. -Low or no grid power available to support powering EV vessels in remote-access areas. -Integrated design of power systems, propeller and battery installation to ensure acceptable functionality and durability. -Fire safety: Improvements in battery chemistry and packaging reduce fire risk. However, the improved cells are still pending approval. This project will include a four week demonstration; two weeks as an inter-island workboat in the Outer Hebrides, Leverburgh to Berneray, which will run twice daily, five days a week, and with a 60 minute journey time one-way; and two weeks working on a fish farm in Ullapool. This will be commenced once the vessel has been sea trialled and all testing completed. CWL's E-LUV will be the UK's first electric workboat demonstrator, exhibiting integration of hull design, propulsion, energy storage and fire safety to meet regulations and inform future electric workboat guidance. CWL will be working closely with the MCA during the project to support the creation of a new regulatory framework.
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