Net Zero Marine (NZM) has commissioned a 0.55 MW shore power installation at Denton Wharf, cutting over 280,000 kg of CO₂ emissions per year by removing the need for diesel generators. For both Net Zero Marine and Svitzer, the facility is the largest of its kind on the River Thames and one of the UK’s largest non-subsidised shore power projects, demonstrating the commercial viability of clean port energy solutions.
The installation incorporates two independent suppliers for resilience, a cable bridge over the flood wall, a total of nearly 900m of marine-grade cabling and five isolation points for safety, all of which supplies zero-emissions power to the Svitzer tug fleet operating from the wharf. The electrical power supply uses a 100% renewable tariff from TotalEnergies.
With nearly 50% of greenhouse gas emissions from UK domestic maritime coming from vessels at berth, this project directly supports the DfT Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy (2025) and delivers cleaner air for those working and living near the port.
Miles Cole, Head of Origination, Net Zero Marine Limited commented: “NZM are focused on improving air quality in the UK maritime sector. We are very proud to be part of this project, and our ambition is to roll out many more of these projects over the coming years”.
This pioneering NZM project is part of a much larger vision, working in partnership with towage operator Svitzer. Both NZM and Svitzer share a global mission to deliver shore power and charging infrastructure, Svitzer delivering the first of its electric tug fleet in 2025 which will cut Co2 emissions by 600-900 tons, compared to an existing tug.
Michael Paterson, Managing Director of Svitzer, UK, Svitzer commented: “At Svitzer, we’ve set ambitious yet achievable targets to decarbonise our global operations together with our customers and the communities we are part of. This is another important step in becoming net zero by 2040.”
The launch event was a resounding success, attended by key stakeholders from the Port of London Authority & Svitzer along with and further industry partners who supported this day. The atmosphere was one of collaboration and momentum, with speeches highlighting the significance of the shore power installation for the future of clean maritime energy.
Grace Rawnsley, Director of Sustainability, Port of London Authority, commented: “Shore power is essential to decarbonising ports and inland waterways. We welcome and applaud projects like this on the river that bring us closer to realising a zero-carbon future for the river Thames”.
The launch event marks a proud milestone for the Net Zero Marine team. This achievement reflects the strength of collaboration across the maritime sector and the shared ambition to deliver cleaner, smarter infrastructure.
John Story, Chair – Story Plant, commented: “It’s fantastic to see this project going live and seeing the first of the Net Zero Marines projects coming to fruition. At Story Energy, we have been working in partnership with NZM and are excited with all the projects they are bringing forward.
This project has taken the cooperation of several parties and I want to thank them all for making this happen, saving 4,000 litres of fuel a week is something we can all be proud of”.
Maritime Minister, Keir Mather, said: “We’re cutting emissions across shipping and charting a course to net zero by 2050 – cementing the UK’s position as a clean energy superpower to deliver our Plan for Change. Projects like this are vital to decarbonising maritime, supporting jobs, and driving growth in our port towns.”
With the success of this project, Net Zero Marine is confident that the UK maritime industry is well-positioned to scale up shore power solutions and accelerate the transition to net zero.
