03 Aug COMPLETION OF INNOVATIVE DECARBONISATION PROJECT
A major milestone has been reached in the Sustainable Marine Transition: Electric Jet Drive for Poole Harbour Decarbonisation project, with the first successful on-water demonstration of an innovative electric propulsion system taking place in Poole Harbour.
Funded by an Innovate UK Launchpad project and led by Lyte Drive Ltd in partnership with Poole Harbour Commissioners and Aquagem Marine Innovation (AMI), the 12-month, now completed, feasibility project saw a 5kW electric jet drive unit fitted to a 2.6-metre tender and successfully tested on the water, demonstrating the potential for cleaner propulsion in future harbour operations. Building on this success, work is now well underway on a demonstration vessel for the Lyte Jet 30kW electric propulsion system. The propellerless, fully integrated electric jet drive is being developed for real working conditions on the water, taking another step towards practical, lower-emission propulsion for working vessels.
Harry Gregory, PHC’s Harbour Master, said:
“This successful trial is an encouraging step forward in exploring cleaner and more sustainable technologies for harbour operations. Projects like this are an important part of helping us deliver the Port of Poole’s Decarbonisation Plan, by exploring practical ways to reduce emissions from harbour vessels and move towards cleaner propulsion. It’s a significant achievement, and I’d like to congratulate Charles Hall from Lyte Drive and the project partners on this successful demonstration and the completion of the project.”