AceOn Group, a leader in renewable electrification, has proudly led one of the UK’s first successful trials of a hybrid hydrogen and battery retrofit propulsion system aboard Newcastle University’s Princess Royal research vessel. This pioneering £4.6 million RESTORE project marks a breakthrough moment for maritime decarbonisation, setting sail into a zero-emission future.
Funded by the UK Department for Transport and delivered through Innovate UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC3), RESTORE (Retrofittable Propulsion System for Electric Vessels with Hydrogen Range Extender) transformed the Princess Royal into a cutting-edge research platform capable of servicing offshore wind turbines with zero emissions.
The project brought together a world-class consortium, including AceOn Group, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Engas Global, Newcastle University, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Liverpool, Taurus Engineering, and CAGE Technologies.
Mark Thompson, CEO of AceOn Group, said:
“AceOn was proud to lead a multidisciplinary team at the forefront of maritime innovation. This project is a testament to the UK’s potential in clean maritime technology — creating jobs, supporting exports, and proving that British innovation can lead the world. Our experience with hydrogen is just the beginning; we’re committed to turning bold ideas into globally competitive products.”
The project culminated in April 2025 with a landmark demonstration in the North Sea and River Tyne.
Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and Chair of Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, boarded the vessel, calling it:
“It was absolutely fantastic to step onboard one of the UK’s first hydrogen/battery powered retrofitted boat, which paves the way for marine developments across the world. Forward-thinking, innovative technology solutions, such as the RESTORE project, are transformative and can revolutionise the maritime industry. This boat and project represent the power of innovation in tackling global energy challenges, steering us toward a cleaner, greener future for marine.“
The Princess Royal — based near Blyth, just miles from EDF Renewables’ offshore wind farm — showcased unprecedented operational range using battery-electric propulsion supported by a hydrogen generator, underscoring the potential for zero-emission marine operations.
The Challenge:
Maintain the vessel’s existing diesel system while building a new electric propulsion solution. The setup included dual battery banks charged at sea via an onboard hydrogen-fed generator.
The Innovation:
The Hydrogen generator, charging one battery bank while the other powers the vessel. Once depleted, the system switches — creating a continuous loop of propulsion and charging for seamless, zero-emission marine operation.
The Result:
Sea trials in the North Sea — reaching EDF Renewables’ wind farm in Blyth — showcased the system’s viability. Clean, efficient, and retrofittable: a blueprint for the future of maritime transport.
This project was part of the CMDC3 and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC3 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.
