Excel London Shore Power
Story Marine has been granted planning consent for the Excel London Shore Power project by Newham Council in August 2025 (Ref: 25/00180/FUL)
The River Thames has underpinned the economy of the UK and London for over 2,000 years. Today, London, and in particular, the Royal Docks, relies on commercial and tourist activities that take place on the River Thames with riverside activities, including sports, riverside restaurants and public river transport services. The Excel London Shore Power Project is a 1.5MW equipment installation which will enable zero emissions shore power facilities along the Excel London dock edge and manage power pricing to marine power users. The shore power installation will reduce local emissions and noise pollution as well as position the area as a sustainable docking option.
The site comprises an area of hardstanding, adjacent to Custom House DLR Station, and extends to the area of land to the north of the Royal Victoria Docks along the Excel waterfront. The Site is bounded by the Excel centre to the east and car park to the west. Access to the site is provided by Seagull Lane and the footpath along the Excel Waterfront. The location of the site provides ample opportunity to provide power services to marine users that will link the land and water activities taking place in the area.
The development as part of the Excel London Shore Power project will provide small-scale infrastructure to facilitate a shore power installation project at the site. The installed infrastructure will include: 3 x GRPs, 1 x Feeder Pillars, 4 x Shore Power Infrastructure (Shore Power Unit), and cabling to connect the various pieces of infrastructure. Once installed, the infrastructure will be connected to the local grid network and allow the marine users at the Excel Centre to power their vessels at berth using electricity from the local grid network.
The impetus for this proposal is underpinned by the need to transition to net zero emissions. By providing adequate grid connected electrical power services, the following benefits will be realised:
- Marine tenants or users along the waterfront will be able to move away from burning diesel in generators (either onboard or temporary pier-side generators) to zero emissions at source electrical power.
- An increase in the availability of power at the dock edge will invite additional marine users to the area and promote the Excel Centre as a multi-use destination.
- A reduction in local emissions and noise pollution.
- An increase in the availability of shore power at the dock edge will appeal to larger vessels previously unable to berth at this location, making the dock more attractive to marine users seeking sustainable docking options.
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28 Clipper House, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London, United Kingdom, E14 0JW | Company Number 14964629