Cluster Catch-up: Topeka Holding AS
“Climate action and the need to transform the global shipping industry into lower emission solutions is the market opportunity of our lifetime.”
With an ambitious goal to decarbonize the merchant fleet - for all segments and across the seven seas, Topeka Holding is ready to contribute with broad knowledge with their partners.
In the last Cluster Catch-up, Amogy told us about their compact, high-efficiency chemical reactor that splits ammonia into hydrogen. Now it’s Topeka’s turn! We reached out to Steinar Madsen, CEO of Topeka Holding AS, for a chat about the future.
What is Topeka’s primary focus right now?
Steinar Madsen, CEO of Topeka Holding AS.
Our main priority right now is to move green vessel projects from powerpoints to steel on the water.
Topeka’s ambition is to build, own, and operate zero emission vessels for our customers. We are investigating several solutions based on being technology and fuel agnostic. The main barrier to ramp-up from slide presentations to steel, is to develop affordable and reliable solutions meeting both client’s emission targets and their budgets.
Green fuel supply is a hurdle for the time being. We do believe that green propulsion technology for various hydrogen carriers is ready for piloting. But, without fuel supply at a reasonable cost, it is difficult to conclude long term agreements with cargo owners and to enter the construction phase.
Right now we are completing the first green projects, including two methanol fueled vessels for North Sea Container Line, currently under construction. Seeing is believing, and hopefully will brave first movers pave the way for others to follow, says Madsen.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities for Topeka in the future?
Climate action and the need to transform the global shipping industry into lower emission solutions is the market opportunity of our lifetime. We do believe Norway and Northern Europe could be the brood box to develop, pilot and demonstrate innovative green solutions giving the Norwegian Maritime cluster competitive advantages in the global market. For Topeka, benefiting on the global Wilhelmsen group presence, this is a great opportunity.
Again, the biggest challenge is the unavailability of the new green fuels. Lack of supply chains in Norway is slowing the ramp-up and we experience other regions are taking a front runner position.
How can hydrogen be a part of the solution for the future?
It is a necessity to have available hydrogen to decarbonise larger vessels. Hydrogen is an essential building block in various solutions. Pure hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, e-fuels etc.
What is your primary focus when it comes to sustainability?
Topeka’s ambition is to build, own and operate zero emission vessels. We are ship owners and not a technology provider.
Our focus is to collaborate with technology providers, fuel suppliers and research, and to challenge our technology partners to innovate and improve solutions, enabling Topeka to offer responsible and economically feasible solutions to cargo owners.
Ambitious plans, presentation slides, and the theoretical perfect solutions are only really a contributing factor once vessels are delivered and replacing conventional solutions.
Why did you decide on becoming a member of Ocean Hyway Cluster?
We decided to join Ocean Hyway Cluster to grow our hydrogen network.
Topeka Holding AS has nominated Statkraft to be the next runner-up in Cluster Catch-up, and we look forward to hearing more from them in the next edition!
Curious about a membership in Ocean Hyway Cluster? Have a look here.
Previous Cluster catch-up editions
