Enova, a Norwegian state-owned enterprise, recently awarded Nkr300M (US$28M) in innovation funding to develop, build, and operate five hydrogen-powered dry bulk vessels.
This significant investment aims to promote the use of hydrogen as a marine fuel and support the development of zero-emissions vessel technologies.
Enova, owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Energy, has a mandate to support new energy technologies. The grant was awarded under Enova’s ‘hydrogen in vessels’ programme, which seeks to drive market change by backing companies that use hydrogen as a fuel. This programme is a part of Norway’s broader strategy to reduce emissions in the maritime sector.
Maris Fiducia Norway, the Norwegian subsidiary of Dutch shipowner Maris Fiducia, will manage and operate the five vessels. The project involves key subcontractors HAV Hydrogen and Norwegian Hydrogen. These vessels will be chartered by German logistics operator Schulte & Bruns, establishing a commercial operation to test the feasibility of hydrogen technologies for shipping.
The vessels, designed by Dutch ship designer Ankerbeer, are 6,000-dwt bulk carriers optimized for efficiency and low fuel consumption. They will feature a dual-fuel hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) combined with fuel cells for auxiliary power. This dual-fuel approach aims to balance performance and sustainability.
A notable innovation is the inclusion of the zero emission pod (zepod), a module containing a complete hydrogen energy system for ships. Each zepod, developed by HAV Hydrogen, will have a total capacity of 400 kW, sufficient to power all auxiliary systems on board. These zepods are designed to be upgradeable to 1 MW capacity, indicating future scalability.
When compared to global benchmarks, Enova’s project is part of a growing trend towards hydrogen in maritime applications. Similar projects are underway in other parts of the world, but the scale and integration of hydrogen technologies vary. For example, Japan and South Korea have also invested heavily in hydrogen-powered vessels, focusing on both technological innovation and supply chain development.
