Norway is accelerating efforts to develop hydrogen powered maritime transport as LH2 Shipping secures NOK 344.3 million in support from Enova for two additional liquid hydrogen (LH₂) powered bulk carriers.
The funding expands the company’s portfolio to six hydrogen vessel projects and reflects growing interest in hydrogen as a potential solution for reducing emissions in shipping segments where direct electrification remains difficult.
The latest support brings total Enova funding linked to LH2 Shipping’s six vessel projects to more than NOK 800 million, reinforcing Norway’s position as a testing ground for low emission maritime technologies. The projects are intended to move hydrogen propulsion beyond demonstration stages by advancing vessel design, fuel systems, operational models, and supporting infrastructure.
Shipping remains one of the more challenging sectors to decarbonize due to the energy density requirements of long distance and heavy duty operations. While batteries are increasingly suitable for short routes and smaller vessels, larger ships require alternative fuels that can provide higher onboard energy storage. Liquid hydrogen is being evaluated because it offers higher energy density by volume compared with compressed hydrogen, although it requires complex cryogenic storage systems and specialized handling infrastructure.
The two new bulk carrier projects build on LH2 Shipping’s earlier hydrogen vessel developments, increasing the company’s focus on commercial deployment. Rather than treating hydrogen vessels as isolated pilot projects, the approach aims to create a repeatable pathway for integrating fuel production, bunkering, and maritime operations.
A major barrier for hydrogen adoption in shipping remains the lack of available infrastructure. Hydrogen vessels require reliable access to fuel supply chains, including production facilities, liquefaction capacity, storage systems, and bunkering networks. Without parallel development of these elements, vessel deployment risks advancing faster than fuel availability.
Norway’s maritime sector has become a key testing environment for alternative fuels due to strong policy support and a large maritime industry. The country has introduced measures to encourage emissions reductions from shipping, with hydrogen and ammonia among the fuels being explored for zero and low emission vessels.
According to Enova, early adopters are essential for accelerating technology development by creating operational experience and reducing uncertainty for future projects. However, hydrogen powered shipping still faces significant commercial challenges, including fuel costs, infrastructure investment requirements, vessel design complexity, and competition from other renewable fuel pathways.
