Falmouth is to benefit from more than £6 million, with an additional share of £4 million, as part of funding to bring new technology to the coast in an environmentally friendly way.

Successful projects had to show they could use the money to reduce carbon emissions and work with major UK ports and operators to launch a zero-emission vessel by 2025 at the latest.

In total £80 million of government funding is being given out to the winners of the Zero Emission Vessel and Infrastructure fund (ZEVI).

Under the competition, organisations could apply to one of three strands. Strand one saw applicants focus on battery electric vessels and the necessary charging infrastructure, while strand two specifically looked at shoreside power and how it can power vessels at berth. The last strand three covered vessels powered by alternative fuels and how to best store that fuel.

Falmouth projects were successful in the first two strands, with A&P Falmouth directly receiving £6.3 million through one of them. The money is for an industrial research project to design, build and test a way of providing clean energy on the shoreside that is suitable for multiple users at the Port of Falmouth.

The aim is to provide the UK's first multi-vessel, flexible shore power connections, suitable for cruise liners and other commercial vessels from across the maritime sector.

Falmouth is also one of the locations in a project to develop and operate a network of 20 electric workboats.

Led by H Taylor and Son (Brockley) Limited (RS Sailing), the £4 million project will encompass ten locations along the south coast including Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth, Salcombe and Yarmouth.

The objective of the project is to prove that battery electric workboats can be operated effectively, efficiently, and safely.

It is estimated that 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be saved by the three-year project – the equivalent of 113,000 miles of driving of an average HGV.

The bid said that, scaled worldwide, this could save millions of tonnes of CO2 being emitted per year. Announced the successful projects at the start of London International Shipping Week, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Today’s winners are at the cutting edge of the nation’s maritime industry – a crucial part of this Government’s plan to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the UK.”

Maritime Minister Baroness Vere added: “As a seafaring nation, it is in our national character to push nautical limits, and this funding will help to ensure the UK maintains its position at the leading edge of maritime innovation.”