Clean Maritime
Fuel powering shipping and wider port activity has been some of the most polluting fuel used across all transport modes. Globally, the maritime sector needs to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants as these affect the environment profoundly accelerating the climate change.

The Clean Maritime Plan sets out how the UK can take a proactive role in driving the transition to zero emission shipping in its waters and is globally recognised as a leader in this field. 
At Plymouth, 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.  
We led the partnership that created the UK’s first e-marine hub of shore-side charging facilities for electric maritime vessels and played an integral role in enabling £15.6 million of Levelling Up funding to be secured for the Appledore Clean Maritime Innovation Centre in 2023. 
Our position as a founding member of the National Centre for Coastal Autonomy, launching the national Cyber-SHIP Lab in collaboration with major marine industries, and partnerships such as with the Royal Navy all drive our ability for advanced ocean observation. 
Meanwhile, through state-of-the-art facilities, such as the COAST Laboratory and Maritime Simulation Lab we continue to harness the capability of new and existing technology. 
 
 

Plymouth Perspectives on clean maritime

Trailblazing clean maritime innovation

Providing evidence to support policy-making processes

The Maritime 2050 strategy sets out how the UK can take a proactive role in driving the transition to zero emission shipping in its waters.
"The challenge is encouraging smaller ports to decarbonise. Helping a hundred small harbours de-carbonise could potentially deliver the same impact as a large port de-carbonising."

Sarah Fear     
A series of high power DC electric charging stations has been installed around the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (Credit - University of Plymouth)

People

Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy

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 University of Plymouth. 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.
 

Centre for Systems Thinking: Ocean, Land and Society

The Centre for Systems Thinking: Ocean, Land and Society champions a whole-system transdisciplinary approach to solutions-oriented research to improve planetary health. The Centre brings together an unrivalled critical mass of catchment-coast-ocean expertise from across the University’s Strategic Research Institutes to address 21st-century challenges alongside national and international policy. 
 
Plymouth, UK: Marina Drone Photos, credit: Drone Motion Stock, courtesy of ShutterstockCentre for Systems Thinking lead image

Interdisciplinary Strategic Institutes

Our diverse research spans three Strategic Institutes. Collaborative endeavour in rich, natural environments drives solutions to global challenges.

Richard Thompson Plymouth Pioneers. plastic bottle in sea

Marine Institute
Marine, maritime, education and innovation expertise integrate to train scientists, engineers, policymakers, artists, technicians and business.

COVID-19

Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research
Transformation in life course, ageing, methodologies, e-health, technology and interventions in health, social care, lifestyle, health and wellbeing.

Research with the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Sustainable Earth Institute
Science, engineering, arts, humanities, health and business, with community, businesses and individuals, innovate to build resilience for our planet.