Real-world Evidence for Adoption of Clean Technologies (REACT)

Accelerating electric vessel uptake with AI- and data-driven insight
Aerial view of Plymouth Sound and The Hoe
 
The transition to clean technologies in the commercial small boat sector is essential for reducing emissions and meeting the UK's maritime decarbonisation goals. However, vessel operators remain cautious about adopting new technologies due to concerns around range, reliability, costs, regulation, and insurance.
The Real-world Evidence for Adoption of Clean Technologies (REACT project) is a seven-month collaborative pre-deployment programme that will address these concerns by generating the evidence base that operators need to make informed adoption decisions.
 
REACT will deliver an AI- and data-driven capability designed to accelerate the uptake of electric vessels and other clean technologies. The project will develop:
  • Low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) data loggers
    • Designed to fit both existing internal combustion engine vessels and electric/alternative energy vessels.
    • Collect operational and performance data in real-world conditions.
  • Cloud platform and data integration
    • Automates the fusion of multiple data sources, including utility company data.
    • Enables real-time CO2 emission values from electricity generation and on-the-fly cost calculations.
Electric boat launch
  • AI-enabled analytics
    • Provides insights into how vessels are used day-to-day.
    • Offers recommendations for optimising operations to minimise emissions.
    • Supports operators with clear result presentation, tailored to decision-making needs.

By the end of the project, REACT will deliver:
  • A tested IoT logging device, data analytics platform, and cloud software ready for deployment.
  • Tools capable of supporting a large-scale trial on 100 workboats in 2026.
  • Practical, evidence-based insights to help operators reduce uncertainty and confidently adopt clean technologies.

 
In the project, University of Plymouth researchers aim to deepen scientific and technological knowledge by analysing real-world data from battery-powered propulsion systems and the related electrical charging infrastructure, with a focus on vessel CO2 emissions.
The work package has three main goals: 
  1. Examine how factors such as weather, tidal patterns, human activities, and vessel operation impact CO2 emissions from charging and combustion engines. 
  2. Create machine learning and statistical models to identify vessel trip patterns and estimate CO2 emissions.
  3. Develop a standardised method for calculating CO2 emissions from small vessels in different conditions to guide future regulations and business practices on emissions reporting.
 

Trailblazing clean maritime innovation

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.
 
Clean Maritime

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 Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy