The DfT has announced its latest round of funding for UK shipping and coastal communities with £271 million pledged to develop green boat fuel and boost innovation in the maritime sector. The funding has been awarded from the seventh round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) and the second round of the Zero Emissions Vessels Infrastructure (ZEVI) fund. The funding will give successful companies grants to help decarbonise the maritime sector by developing clean maritime fuels and infrastructure. 

Port infrastructure operators and businesses wishing to secure investment in green fuels are able to apply to the CMDC Round 7 competition until 15th July 2026, and the ZEVI Round 2 competition until 16th September 2026.

CMDC Round 7 will offer funding for feasibility studies, pre-deployment testing and real-world trials of clean maritime technologies for UK vessels, infrastructure, and/or skills that advance clean maritime technologies and help the sector reach zero emissions by 2050. Project costs can range from £100,000 to £15m depending on strand. Up to 70% of costs can be funded, depending on project type and business size. 

ZEVI Round 2 will support real-world trials of innovative clean maritime solutions over a three-year period. Target areas include battery electric vessels and associated charging infrastructure, shore power technologies (vessel side and shore side) and alternative fuels (hydrogen, ammonia, methanol) and bunkering infrastructure. 

For more information and to apply, visit the ZEVI 2 Alternative Fuels competition page or the ZEVI 2 Electric Power page on the Innovate UK Business Connect site.

The funding available through CMDC and ZEVI is designed not only to cut emissions, but to boost ecnonomic growth, support skilled employment, and revitalise coastal communities. 

There will be a ZEVI 2 National Briefing event on 15th April 2026,10-5pm in London. For more information about the event please click here.