NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group are shortly to commence installation of shore power at Heysham Port, with the first plug live in the initial phase and expansion to four across all berths by 2026.
This will make it possible for all Heysham routes within the Irish sea to operate with zero emissions while at berth and at sea, supporting future full electric propulsion of the ferry services, as the first part of the full electrification of the Irish sea.
The investment supports the UK Government’s industrial and economic growth objectives through more sustainable passenger and freight routes. NatPower Marine is further developing partnerships with other ports and shipping operators in the area.
Once all four berths at Heysham are electrified, the infrastructure will enable vessels in the Irish sea routes to reduce GHG emissions by more than 10,000t/yr CO2e, alongside significant reductions in NOx and SOx.
The investment is expected to total around £10m, with NatPower Marine delivering the infrastructure and Peel Ports Group providing site and operational support. The Heysham initiative forms part of a wider £100m partnership between NatPower Marine and Peel Ports Group to roll out e-ship charging infrastructure across for operators in Great Britain and Ireland. The work will accelerate Peel Ports Group’s ambition for Heysham to become the UK’s first net-zero port, building on its existing success in reducing landside emissions by up to 90% and significantly improving air quality in the surrounding areas.
When fully rolled out across all Peel Ports Group locations, shore power could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 166,800t/yr, alongside 2,180t of NOx, 1,060t of SOx, and 470t of methane. This is said to demonstrate the scale of impact that port electrification can deliver in improving air quality and driving decarbonisation across shipping routes.
Martin Olverson, Development Director, NatPower Marine, said: “Heysham is where the UK’s first green shipping corridor becomes real. One plug will soon become four, serving every Heysham route to Ireland and giving operators the confidence to move quickly on vessel electrification. We are building the backbone of a clean shipping network so ferry and freight lines can invest in the next generation of zero-emission ships.”
Lewis McIntyre, MD Peel Ports Group, added: “Shipping is already the greenest form of transport but there’s still a huge role for ports to play in decarbonising the supply chain. We can only do that with collaboration, innovation and long-term commitment from everyone involved, which this project embodies. However, this goes far beyond environmental goals. Ports are the lifeblood of UK plc and so many of our national economic and social ambitions rely on a thriving maritime sector.”
NatPower Marine is deploying the urgently needed infrastructure for e-ship charging, specifically for propulsion and cold ironing, starting in the UK. Earlier in 2025 the company announced plans to invest in a global charging network covering 120 port locations by 2030. NatPower plans to develop a global network of 120 sites worldwide by 2030.
Image: Martin Olverson, NatPower Marine, and Lewis McIntyre, Peel Ports Group at Heysham (source: NatPower Group)
