Joint project led by an international team of partners demonstrates real-world potential for connecting electric boats to the power grid

The CANUK Vessel-to-Grid (V2G) Project, a collaboration between BlueGrid, Aqua SuperPower, in collaboration with a consortium of Canadian and UK partners, has been successfully completed. This milestone represents significant progress toward enhancing the affordability of “electric-first” vessels and improving their integration with clean power grids.

Led in Canada by BlueGrid and in the UK by Aqua SuperPower, the project brought together leading organizations across technology, research, and industry, including RS Electric Boats, RAD Propulsion, University of Plymouth and Dalhousie University. Together, the partners explored how electric vessels can not only operate more sustainably but also give energy back to the grid when idle at the dock. This allows the transition to electric vessels to support energy security and maximise renewable energy consumption.

A Trans-Atlantic Effort with Real-World Results

Over the past year, the CANUK consortium demonstrated the successful integration of vessel-to-grid systems in both Canada and the UK. This included connecting an electric workboat to a live charging and grid interface, testing two-way energy flow, and analyzing vessel data to understand how different duty cycles and ports can participate in grid balancing.

Aqua’s bi-directional charging infrastructure, controlled by their Neptune platform, was used to access the RS Electric Pulse RIB battery with communications to RAD’s integrated electric drive system, all informed by BlueGrid’s operational data. The demonstrations took place at University of Plymouth in the UK, and COVE and Dalhousie University in Halifax. This was accompanied by university research into duty cycle impacts on the marine batteries.

The project benefitted from support and funding from Innovate UK and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.

Why It Matters

Vessel-to-Grid (V2G) technology is a missing link between marine electrification and clean-energy transition. Canada and Europe have long coastlines and millions of vessels that stand to benefit significantly as electric boats become both zero-emission transport and mobile energy assets.

What’s Next

The partners are already exploring future collaborations that build on the CANUK success, from commercial V2G deployments to regional electrification initiatives in ports and coastal communities.

By bidirectionally linking the marine sector and the electricity grid, CANUK has proven that decarbonizing the ocean economy can also means strengthening clean-energy resilience on land.

“The CanUK Vessel-to-Grid project has proven that marine electrification can go beyond clean propulsion – and actively assist the electricity grid in its own transition. Working alongside Aqua SuperPower and our partners, we’ve demonstrated how vital data is in making vessels part of the energy ecosystem, not just consumers of it.” Andrew Boswell, CEO of BlueGrid

“The CanUK collaboration is a powerful example of how partnership accelerates innovation. Integrating the partners’ vessel-to-grid capabilities lays the groundwork for scalable, real-world charging and energy-sharing solutions across marinas and ports.” Adam Marshall, CTO of Aqua SuperPower

“The CANUK project has now come to an end, and it has been fantastic working with Innovate UK. We’ve learned so much alongside our partners, and together we’ve been able to advance new V2G technology – a revolutionary way of using the RS Pulse 63’s battery pack to return electricity to the grid. Thank you to all our partners for their involvement and dedication. It’s inspiring to be driving innovation forward once again.” Alex Newton-Southon, Managing Director, RS Electric Boats