Norwegian government enterprise Enova has announced financial support for seven ammonia ships, two hydrogen ships, five electric ships and one charging facility, in the latest round of the country’s investments in green shipping.
According to Tore O. Sandvik, Minister for Climate and Environment, the focus on green shipping is “right and necessary,” and Enova is an important tool for achieving the government’s climate goals.
In total, hydrogen and ammonia ship projects have been awarded the support of over NOK 940 million ($83.88 million), and the goal is to demonstrate hydrogen and ammonia as zero-emission solutions in the maritime industry by establishing the first functioning value chains for hydrogen and ammonia in Norway.
“With this, the Norwegian maritime industry is taking new important steps towards zero-emission shipping,” Nils Kristian Nakstad, CEO of Enova, said, adding: “In order to build up this value chain, it is important to have both a sufficient number of vessels and the production and bunkering of hydrogen and ammonia. This is an important step towards realizing the commitment towards 2030, which will be a springboard for the transition towards 2050.”
Commenting on the support, Elin Ulstad Stokland, Target Manager for Maritime Transport at Enova, noted that the company will offer meetings with those who did not receive the funding and encouraged everyone to apply by the new deadline. Moreover, Stokland revealed that Enova is planning two calls a year for the hydrogen and ammonia programs in 2025 and 2026.
In 2024, Enova provided funding for a total of 24 vessels that use hydrogen and ammonia as fuel. In addition, in November, the support was awarded to five hydrogen production projects, which are expected to ensure that hydrogen is available as a fuel along the Norwegian coast.
The government enterprise is also supporting five electric vessels and one dedicated charging facility.
“We support the most ambitious electrification projects and the necessary charging infrastructure,” Andreas Forsnes Jahn, Senior Advisor at Enova, stated, noting: “The projects show the potential for battery operation and can pave the way for increased electrification of short sea shipping.”
As disclosed, Enova is currently working on a new support program for ammonia infrastructure along the Norwegian coast. The draft will be presented during the first quarter of 2025, and the market will have the opportunity to provide input.