Project Overview
Ports and inland waterway operators increasingly recognise the need to decarbonise. However, many lack the detailed operational insight required to determine where electrification should be prioritised and how infrastructure should be deployed effectively. The Port of London Authority faced this challenge as part of its Net Zero River Plan.
Marine Zero’s MAP process provides a data-driven solution— translating real vessel activity into quantified, location-specific energy demand to support more targeted, cost-effective, and lower-risk infrastructure planning.
This case study outlines how MAP was applied across the Lower Thames Estuary, and what the analysis revealed.
32 GWh demand identified | 85% concentrated in 10 locations
The Challenge
For port authorities, operators, and energy planners, the central challenge is clear:
Where will electrification infrastructure deliver the greatest impact?
Without robust operational evidence:
- Infrastructure can be over- or under-sized
- Investment may be misdirected
- Projects risk delay due to grid constraints (limited available electrical capacity) and uncertainty
On the Lower Thames, this challenge is amplified by:
- Complex and mixed vessel activity
- Highly variable dwell patterns (how long vessels remain stationary)
- Significant operations occurring outside recognised pier infrastructure
Project Scope & Design
Marine Zero applied MAP — a structured, four-step consultancy framework that turns maritime decarbonisation complexity into clear, data-driven plans:
- Energy Assessment (understanding how vessels operate and how much energy they use)
- Vessel Feasibility (assessing propulsion and battery options)
- Energy Supply Feasibility (planning grid connections and charging infrastructure)
- FEED Study (developing detailed, investment-ready engineering designs)
For this project, Marine Zero delivered the Energy Assessment stage at system level, using combined vessel tracking datasets to:
- Reconstruct vessel activity and operational profiles
- Estimate energy demand using speed-based modelling
- Identify dwell locations and charging opportunities
- Aggregate demand at key sites across the estuary
The resulting outputs were provided to LCP Delta, who assessed selected sites using criteria including local authority support, site suitability, and primary substation headroom (available grid capacity).
Outcomes & Next Steps
Through the application of MAP, the analysis provides a clear, quantified picture of electrification demand across the Lower Thames — enabling more confident, targeted, and cost-effective infrastructure planning.
- 32 GWh of total energy demand identified across 63 locations
- Around 85% of demand concentrated in the top 10 locations
- Peak demand ranging from 11 kW to 3.6 MW
- Typical high-activity locations showing 1–2 MW demand
Significant activity at both named piers and unassociated vessel clusters — areas of consistent vessel activity not linked to defined pier infrastructure
What this enables
By applying MAP’s data-driven approach, stakeholders are able to:
- Prioritise investment on a small number of high-impact locations
- Avoid overbuilding or misallocating infrastructure
- Plan grid connections with greater confidence
- Focus feasibility work where it will deliver the greatest return
Next steps
The findings provide a foundation for:
- Site-level feasibility and infrastructure design
- Grid connection strategy and engagement with DNOs (regional electricity network operators)
- Validation of high-demand unassociated locations
- Phased deployment of electrification infrastructure
The Lower Thames Mapping project demonstrates how MAP enables port authorities, operators, and infrastructure planners to move from uncertainty to targeted, evidence-based action — providing a clear foundation for prioritising electrification and directing investment where it will deliver the greatest impact.
Want to see how MAP could supercharge your decarbonisation strategy?
By identifying where demand is most concentrated, this analysis has helped inform a more targeted approach to infrastructure planning as part of our Net Zero River Plan
Port of London Authority