National Focus on Maritime Hydrogen
Ocean Hyway Cluster (OHC) leads a consortium aiming to deliver a pilot hydrogen powered high speed passenger vessel for the Florø-Måløy/Selje route in Western Norway. Leading Labour Party politicians were today, 26th of August, presented for the plans during a visit in Florø.
Need for Pilot Route
The newly released Norwegian Hydrogen Strategy (in Norwegian here) points out the need for maritime hydrogen pilot routes. At the same time Vestland County is working on a new tender for seaborn passenger transportation for the period 2022-2032. The pilot vessel offered by the OHC consortium can be the first hydrogen powered high speed passenger vessel in Norway. High speed passenger vessel designer and ship builder Brødrene Aa is one of the central consortium members.
A Strong Focus on Hydrogen
Amongst the central visiting politicians were Espen Barth Eide, member of the Norwegian Parliament and former Norwegian Minister of Defence and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Terje Lien Aasland, member of the Norwegian Parliament and The Standing Committee on Business and Industry.
These two representatives and part of the other five visiting politicians have a strong focus on hydrogen as an energy carrier. Barth Eide has earlier this year stated the need for a national Norwegian hydrogen company to take advantage of the opportunities that production and use of hydrogen gives us as a nation.
Leading Labour Party politicians were presented for the plans for a pilot hydrogen powered passenger vessel. Photo: Alexandria Nakpil Følsvik, Avent Digital
A Need for Increased Political Commitment
The time has now come to realising concrete maritime hydrogen projects. Hydrogen is used as energy carrier in automotive transportation around the world. - The maritime industry is now ready to build and operate hydrogen powered vessels. Ocean Hyway Cluster works on a daily basis to connect the right players from industry, government and finance sector to realise the national ambitions, says Stein Kvalsund, CEO in OHC. – We now need more engaged politicians that will set aside financial support for a number of selected pilot projects, Kvalsund ends.
Actions to be Followed up
Espen Barth Eide sees Norway as an energy and maritime nation. – Our nation has utilized hydropower and oil and gas in a good way. Now we have to take the right actions to transform to a low emission society by grabbing the possibilities that lie in industrial technology development, says Barth Eide.
Terje Lien Aasland emphasizes the need for more focus on national development schemes. – We need to build competence and adopt to new markets, including international ambitions for export of Norwegian hydrogen technology, Aasland ends.
Espen Barth Eide. Photo: Stortinget
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