Virtual Energy Simulation for Shore-side Electrification Load (VESSEL)

Smart energy management for maritime decarbonisation
Poole harbour
 
Nearly 80% of global trade is carried by the maritime industry, which accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, the International Maritime Organization has set a target to achieve full decarbonisation of shipping by 2050.
Electrification of vessels is already proving to be both technically feasible and financially viable in many cases. However, the shore-based grid infrastructure required to support widespread electrification presents challenges, with high upfront costs and long deployment times.
The Virtual Energy Simulation for Shore-side Electrification Load (VESSEL) project has been established to tackle this issue. It brings together operators, energy providers, consultants, academia, and technology developers to explore innovative energy management solutions that can reduce costs and speed up deployment.
 
The VESSEL project aims to demonstrate how integrated data, smart software, and scalable storage can enable cost-effective vessel electrification. Key activities include:
Data collection and sharing
  • Deploying low-cost marine data logging devices to capture operational information such as state of charge, battery health, position, and velocity.
  • Sharing secured data with port partners to enable better coordination.
  • For vessels without data loggers, machine-learning models will generate reliable operational estimates.
Port demand and energy matching
  • Analysing current port operational demand data and identifying gaps for future demonstration.
  • Integrating live and projected electricity pricing and CO2 emissions data with port-side generation capacity.
Battery system development
  • Designing and testing a scalable second-life battery system (both vertically and horizontally scalable).
  • Using the system to optimise electricity supply and demand in real time.
Lifecycle analysis and viability assessment
  • Conducting a full lifecycle analysis, covering site operations, battery systems, and emission hotspots.
  • Engaging with wider stakeholders to evaluate applicability across UK ports and harbours.

Project outcomes

  • A software solution to integrate vessel and port-side energy data
  • A tested battery optimisation system to balance energy supply and demand
  • A comprehensive demonstration plan, moving from bench-top testing to full operational deployment
  • A replicable approach, ensuring lessons from Poole Harbour can be scaled across ports nationwide.
Poole harbour
The University of Plymouth brings academic expertise in both maritime industries and cyber security to the VESSEL project, focusing on data collection, demand modelling, and ensuring the security and regulatory compliance of digital systems that support vessel electrification.

Key responsibilities

Demand-side data
  • Establish the foundation for data collection methodologies in collaboration with Poole Harbour Commissioners.
  • Deploy sensors to gather granular operational data from vessels.
  • Combine sensor outputs with automatic identification system databases.
  • Develop an AI-driven predictive demand model to forecast energy requirements for vessel charging.
Cyber security 
  • Use the University's Cyber-SHIP Lab to evaluate system vulnerabilities.
  • Conduct threat identification, risk assessment, and cyber-audits of the integrated system.
 

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