The juggling act of 2022

Dec 16

A holiday greeting from Kristin Svardal, CEO of Ocean Hyway Cluster

2022 was yet another volatile year in the markets for the green transition in energy and ocean industries. It has been a year marked by the continued effects of covid-19 and the beginning reversals of the long-term trend of globalization. The Russian invasion of Ukraine shifted the geopolitical landscape and energy security situation in Europe, as well as limiting the supply of food, raw and refined materials, and further fuelling the rampant inflation seen globally. In the long term, these largely negative developments may contribute to accelerating the green transition, as exemplified by Repower EU, the inclusion of shipping in EU ETS and the Inflation Reduction Act in the US – all large political programs introduced in 2022.

Scaling up

The maritime hydrogen industry is emerging worldwide. To ensure that Norwegian technology continues to be the preferred greentech internationally, we need suitable test arenas to verify our solutions, and the Norwegian coast is the preferred arena.

Kristin Svardal, CEO of Ocean Hyway Cluster

The increased focus on zero-emission fuels has this year led to the important support from Enova to build hydrogen infrastructure along the Norwegian coast. Infrastructure is key to start the maritime hydrogen market. Norway’s support system is primarily focused on investment support, which is sufficient to develop pilot projects. However, to enable scale we need market-based support. Contracts for difference will be an important risk reducer both for producers and end-users and needs to be introduced now. We also need new initiatives and support to complete the value chain.

A joint effort

Ocean Hyway Cluster's advancement to Arena Pro in 2022 was a powerful signal: The cluster has a vital role in realizing the hydrogen value chain in Norway. The network continues to grow and is now counting 74 members. The cluster administration’s main purpose is to contribute to you succeeding with your goals, and we all agree that realizing the hydrogen value chain is a joint effort. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank you for the good cooperation and all the interesting dialogues we have had this year. We are always open and curious to get your input, so feel free to get in touch at any time. Let’s make 2023 a great year for the green transition together!

We wish you a wonderful holiday together with your loved ones. We hope the new year will bring you good luck, good health and a lot of happiness.

All the best from Kristin Svardal, the OHC team and the board.