NCE Maritime CleanTech was one of the exhibitors in the Norwegian pavilion during this year’s f-cell conference in Stuttgart. Through presentations and workshops Norwegian companies illustrated how the Norwegian maritime zero emission strategy is creating new opportunities for hydrogen technologies.

With more than 60 high profile lecturers from the areas of business, research and politics, 39 exhibitors and more than 15 represented nations, f-cell provided a current image of the future-oriented technology field of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Among the guests at the Norwegian stand were Ministral Director from Ministry of Transport Baden-Württemberg Helmfried Meiner and the Rogaland fylkeskommune County Major Solveig Ege Tengesdal.

– In the medium and long-term hydrogen will play a vital role in the transport sector. Technology development will demand some brave decisions and we are dependent on good cooperation between the private and the public sector, said Helmfried Meinel, from the Ministry of Climate Baden-Württemberg at the opening plenary.

Norway had the status as Partner Country at this year’s conference and through Innovation Norway NCE Maritime CleanTech was invited to participate in the Norwegian delegation exhibiting at the conference.

Ambitious Chinese plans

Despite a late start, China has made rapid progress in hydrogen development. Mr. Ywqin Wang from Chinese gas engineering enterprise Ally High-Tech CO Ltd gave an insight to the prospect of the country’s hydrogen energy industry.

– Along with development of fuel cell technology the application of hydrogen energy has expanded gradually and has been widely used in transportation, power, thermal, gas and other fields. By 2020, the hydrogen production capacity in China will reach 72 billion cubic meters/year. The total number of hydrogenation stations will be more than 100, and the number of fuel cell vehicles will exceed 10.000. he said.

During the last two years a range of governmental policies and national strategies have been implemented to accelerate the development, including the creation of regional demonstration and promotion projects in key hot spots.

– We predict that in 2050, the service area of the hydrogen stations will cover the whole country and 10 million fuel cell vehicles will be sold, Mr. Wang said.

Maritime projects driving technology development

Norway is seen in Germany as a high technology developed country when talking about green and sustainable solutions. In a workshop during the exhibition members of NCE Maritime CleanTech and the Norwegian Hydrogen Forum provided international industry actors insights in what is happening in the Norwegian market and how Norwegian maritime hydrogen projects are a driver for technology development.

– This workshop was a great opportunity to connect with the German market, create potential business cases and share ideas from “Made in Norway”, said Project Manager in NCE Maritime CleanTech Mr Pål G. Eide.

In his presentation Mr. Eide told about ongoing maritime hydrogen projects in Norway, such as the Road Administration’s tender for a hydrogen-powered car ferry that will be in operation from 2021, NCE Maritime CleanTech’s development of a concept for a hydrogen driven platform supply vessel and the municipality of Trøndelag’s development contract for a high-speed hydrogen passenger ferry.

The other presenters at the workshop were Mozees maritime, Hyon and Fiskerstrand Yard.

– As a large shipping nation Norway can play an important role in the implementation of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the maritime sector. We have extensive knowledge in how to shape the systems and how to tie in the technology, said Principal Scientist Mr. Øystein Ullebø from MoZEES.