Future Energy Demand and Opportunities

New technologies and decarbonisation in response to climate change will shape the future of the Thames. We have been investigating the potential energy provision options and associated infrastructure requirements needed to decarbonise the port to help the PLA and our stakeholders to develop a long-term strategy and investment plan.

Building on work by the PLA on air quality and decarbonisation, in 2021, Royal HaskoningDHV and the consultancy University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) worked to develop a model of the future fuels and geographic spread of demand and supply on the river, which provides the first planning tool for all Thames stakeholders.

There are a number of areas showing potential for both supply and distribution of alternative fuels in the future. The technology opportunities for all fleets on the river is still limited in the near and short term, but the longer-term solutions are seeing significant investment both locally and globally to increase certainty of future requirements in the Thames estuary.

There are still regulatory constraints and effects outside of the control of the PLA and Port stakeholders; however there are also solutions coming to light that may help the PLA with constrained areas in the future. The study also clearly identifies there will be an opportunity for investment and business development for infrastructure owners adjacent to, on and in the Tidal Thames.

Page updated 14/3/2022