Norwegian state-backed environmental fund Enova is to provide NOK1.12bn ($110mn) to support the development of a hydrogen maritime refuelling network in Norway.

Around NOK669mn will be spent establishing five green hydrogen production plants along the Norwegian coast, while NOK451mn will be used to develop seven hydrogen- and ammonia-powered vessels.

“The government has significant ambitions related to the development of hydrogen and wants to contribute to building a coherent value chain for hydrogen produced with no or low emissions,” says Norwegian climate minister Espen Barth Eide.

The five plants in Glomfjord, Rorvik, Hitra, Floro and Kristiansand will each house an electrolyser.

NOK1.12bn – Total funding

“The 20MW hydrogen plant in Glomfjord will, if realised, be the same size as Europe’s currently largest hydrogen plant,” says Jon Andre Lokke, CEO of electrolyser maker Nel, which is supplying the electrolyser to the Glomfjord project.

Green hydrogen firms Everfuel and Greenstat—developers of the Kristiansand projectؙ—will also put in place a 20MW electrolyser.

As well as supplying the maritime industry, the two firms have signed letters of intent with clients representing a total offtake of more than 8,000t/yr. A second development phase will increase the electrolyser capacity to 60MW after 2027.

“The hub will also support the development of an efficient supply chain to serve our fuelling network along the south coast of Norway with green hydrogen,” says Helge Skaarberg Holen, country manager for Everfuel in Norway.

Everfuel has plans to roll out a road transport refuelling network in Denmark, setting a target of 19 operational stations by end-2023.

Vessel deployment

In total, the hubs will have a capacity to deliver hydrogen to 35-40 vessels. But only seven vessels received support from the initial funding round.

Shipper Thor Dahl will build a hydrogen-powered bulk carrier. Shipper Faerder Tankers will build two tankers and two car carriers that use ammonia as fuel. And marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity will build two container vessels that will use hydrogen fuel cells to travel between Rotterdam and the Oslofjord.

“The Seashuttle vessels… are just part of Ocean Infinity’s overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations,” says Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO of Ocean Infinity.

“We would like to thank Enova for their support for our vision which represents a firm endorsement of our ground-breaking approach and allows us to proceed at full speed in bringing this project to life.”

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Author: Tom Young