NCE Maritime CleanTech participates in a project led by BKK, Equinor and Air Liquide that aims to build a complete liquid hydrogen supply chain in Norway for maritime applications. The project has been awarded a grant of 33.5 million NOKs from the governmental PILOT-E scheme, whose objective is to promote rapid development and deployment of new, environment-friendly energy technology products and services.

The participants of the project aim to make liquid hydrogen available for commercial shipping within the first quarter of 2024. The project encompasses the entire value chain from production, storage and transportation to end user in the maritime sector. The other project members are the following : NORCE, Norled, NorSea Group, Viking Cruises and Wilhelmsen.

Clean and sustainable shipping is a key to reach national and international emission targets. Today, liquid hydrogen is considered as one of the optimal zero-emission fuels for ships with high energy demands. It has already been selected for Norway’s first hydrogen ferry, which will be in operation for Norled on the Hjelmeland connection starting in 2021. The consortium’s goal is to kick-start the local market with liquid hydrogen based on electrolysis.

Furthermore, Wilhelmsen and NorSea Group will develop a new and flexible liquid hydrogen distribution concept, including Zero-emission ships for transport plus terminals at the NorSea supply bases for storage and bunkering. Norled, Wilhelmsen and Viking Ocean Cruises participate in the project as hydrogen users on their vessels. The hydrogen terminals will also enable supply to other types of end-users such as buses and heavy duty transport.