The UK government is investing a total of £30 million (approximately €34.4 million) in a new round of funding to support the decarbonization of the country’s maritime sector and stimulate local economies. The announcement was made by Maritime Minister Mike Kane during a visit to Clydeport in Glasgow on July 24, 2025.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC)
This funding comes from the sixth round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), a key part of the government’s flagship UK SHORE program dedicated to decarbonizing the maritime industry. The CMDC provides grants to companies and organizations developing clean maritime fuels and technologies. The latest round of funding will be shared among successful companies working on technologies such as:
- Ammonia
- Hydrogen
- Methanol
- Solar power
- Electric propulsion
To date, the CMDC has provided over £136 million in funding to 142 organizations, supporting more than 300 organizations, including 250 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Featured Projects and Innovations
The funding is designed to not only support technology development but also to revitalize coastal communities by boosting local economies, jobs, and skills. Among the recipients of the new funding is:
- GT Wings: A UK-based wind propulsion company that received an additional £1 million to support the development of its AirWing, which is described as the world’s “first” commercially available jet sail.
The government highlighted the success of a previously funded project during the minister’s visit:
- FastRig Windsail: Built in Glasgow by Smart Green Shipping, the FastRig is a high-tech wing sail that can be retrofitted onto vessels. It is designed to reduce fuel use and emissions by up to 40% per year. The project initially received £3.3 million from the third round of the CMDC and has now been successfully deployed at sea. The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland is now working to help Smart Green Shipping scale up the manufacturing of the FastRig.
Other successful projects from previous CMDC rounds include:
- The installation of electric charge point networks at ports such as Aberdeen.
- The demonstration of an electric crew transfer vessel at the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm.
- A green hydrogen shore power system at the port of Leith.
Maritime Minister Mike Kane stated that the £30 million will be “crucial in supporting the green fuels and technologies of the future” as the UK works toward its goal of achieving net-zero shipping by 2050.
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Source: Offshore Energy
