The winners of the 2025 East Anglia Clean & Green Awards have been announced, with Tidal Transit taking home the Energy Innovation Award, sponsored by National Grid.
Tidal Transit, based off the Norfolk coast in Egmere, operates a fleet of specialised crew transfer vessels (CTVs) to support offshore wind industry projects. These vessels are essential for servicing offshore wind farms, which are often located far from shore and require specialized operations and maintenance (O&M) fleets.
Traditionally, O&M vessels rely on fossil fuels, leading to high carbon emissions. In response, Tidal Transit is leading several electrification initiatives to support the decarbonisation of offshore wind. Among these is the world’s first diesel-to-electric CTV retrofit project and the development of both onshore and offshore charging solutions.
The company’s main electrification project, e-Ginny, involves retrofitting old diesel-powered vessels with 100% battery electric power. This significantly reduces energy consumption and lowers the carbon footprint of crew transfers. The retrofitting process also extends the life of the vessels and reduces waste from decommissioning.
Switching from diesel to battery and hybrid propulsion cuts fuel use by 90%, and in cases like e-Ginny, eliminates operational emissions entirely.
Tidal Transit’s goal is to electrify its operations and maintenance fleets, providing a vital solution for decarbonising offshore wind while ensuring safe, efficient operations.
Judges commended Tidal Transit’s work, noting its significant impact on offshore energy efficiency and its innovative use of turbine-generated electricity for offshore charging.
Leo Hambro, Tidal Transit’s commercial director, expressed his excitement after the win: “Winning this award is the perfect recognition for our electrification project, which aims to remove diesel from the offshore wind supply chain.”
Finalists in the Energy Innovation Category
British Sugar: Operating across East Anglia, British Sugar supplies over half of the UK’s sugar demand. The company has invested over £140 million in carbon and energy reduction projects and technology. Its circular economy approach results in virtually zero waste.
CeraPhi Energy: Based in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, CeraPhi Energy focuses on geothermal development. The company’s novel solution to reuse end-of-life oil and gas wells impressed the judges, who called it a “promising player” in the clean energy transition.
Norwich Business Improvement District (BID): Norwich BID drives the sustainable growth of Norwich businesses and supports the local economy. Using its Norwich Solar System (NSS), it facilitates energy transition. Judges praised it as a “forward-thinking leader in urban sustainability.”
About the Sponsor
National Grid is a central player in Britain’s energy system. It manages the networks and infrastructure that provide electricity to millions of people. The company operates the high voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and the electricity distribution network in the Midlands, South West England, and South Wales. Through National Grid Ventures, the company invests in energy projects, technologies, and partnerships like electricity interconnectors, aiming to create a clean, affordable, and resilient energy network for the future.
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