Building on the £240m ($326m) already invested since 2022, the new government funding marks the second phase of the Shore programme (2026 to 2030). This stage will support research, demonstration projects and commercial trials of zero-emission vessels and infrastructure.

The additional £448m will be combined with £700m of private investment announced at London International Shipping Week. The £1.1bn ($1.5bn) package will also support port upgrades and create jobs and growth in coastal communities.

Projects focused on hydrogen and ammonia fuels, electric and methanol propulsion, wind-assisted technologies, and shore power infrastructure will be the focus for investment.

“We’re committing almost half a billion to cut carbon emissions from shipping – steering us towards Net Zero by 2050 and cementing Britain’s place as a clean energy superpower through our Plan for Change,” explained Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

UK Shore has already backed more than 200 projects, supported 500 organisations, including 250 start-ups, and leveraged £110m private capital since 2022.

The £448m will be delivered through new funding rounds, including ZEVI2 vessel and infrastructure trials and CMDC7 real-world demonstration projects, running from 2026 to 2030.

The funding is expected to “cement the UK as a clean energy superpower.”

Yet even with ongoing government support for hydrogen in shipping, aviation and heavy industry, many early movers have struggled under tighter investment conditions and long commercialisation timelines.

The sector continues to face high capital costs, slow infrastructure build-out and weak demand signals.