The project “Zero-Emission Workboat for Aquaculture” is developing and building a hydrogen-electric workboat for the aquaculture industry, while also establishing a complete infrastructure for production and flexible supply of green hydrogen as fuel for maritime transport.
The project consortium consists of industrial players from across the entire hydrogen value chain, from producer to end user. The project aims to reduce costs in all production and distribution stages, from hydrogen production to vessel operation, in order to make hydrogen a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel.
The project has received NOK 28 million in support from ENOVA, Innovation Norway, and the Research Council of Norway through the Pilot-E program, and consists of two parts:
Workboat: Development and realization of a hydrogen-electric workboat.
Onshore Facility: Development and realization of a comprehensive, flexible, and modular solution for the production, storage, and distribution/bunkering of green hydrogen, enabling the lowest possible delivered price of hydrogen onboard vessels.
The project was initiated by RENERGY and differs from previous and ongoing research and demonstration projects by being primarily industry-driven, with partners committed to developing and implementing commercial hydrogen solutions across the value chain.
Project partners:
Moen Group is the project owner and will build the vessel at Moen Verft in Nærøysund. Vessel development and design are carried out by Moen Marin.
NTE and H2 Marine will develop a scalable solution for the production and supply of hydrogen as a zero-emission and competitive alternative to diesel.
SalMar, the aquaculture company, is the end customer and will operate the new vessel, becoming one of the first private companies in the world to adopt a hydrogen-powered vessel.
SINTEF leads the research activities in the project.
Additional participants include:
Gexcon, NEL, Hexagon, ZEM, Marin Design.
Hydrogen is expected to become an important zero-emission solution for the maritime sector, with a large future market both nationally and internationally. The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association has set the target that by 2030, the Norwegian fleet must reduce climate emissions by 50% per transported unit, and that Norwegian shipowners will only be allowed to order zero-emission vessels from that year onward. By 2050, the Norwegian fleet must be carbon neutral.
For a maritime nation like Norway, decarbonizing the shipping industry presents major opportunities, and this project represents a significant step towards zero emissions. It is estimated that the aquaculture industry alone currently operates around 900 local and service vessels in Norway. The solutions developed through this project are scalable and not limited to one sector. Knowledge gained will be directly transferable to other vessel segments where Norway is already at the forefront: ferries, coastal routes, express boats, fishing vessels, aquaculture vessels, offshore supply vessels, and short-sea cargo ships.
Until now, maritime hydrogen technology has only been demonstrated in a single internationally known project – never in a complete value chain such as this one. Norway and the project partners therefore have the potential to become internationally leading in technology and system delivery, as well as in the sale of hydrogen for maritime purposes.
Would you like to know more about the project, our focus areas, and how we work – or do you have other inquiries? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the project’s contact person or other members of the cluster team!