Norwegian ferry company Norled announced it has won a contract for the development, construction and operation of the world’s first hydrogen-electric ferry, where at least 50% of the energy requirement is covered by hydrogen.
Hydrogen will be the last piece to get zero emissions in the ferry sector,
…says Director Terje Moe Gustavsen in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration and Norled AS signed an agreement on 8 January 2019, on the construction of the world’s first hydrogen-electric ferry, which is to connect the national road 13 between Hjelmeland – Skipavik – Nesvik in Rogaland from 2021.
The ferry will have good capacity and can take up to 299 passengers and 80 cars. Today, there are no comparable hydrogen powered vessels in operation. Norled won the contract in competition with Fjord 1 and Boreal.
On behalf of Norled, I am both proud and humble to be a part of this pioneer project. We are looking forward to cooperating on another development project initiated by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. This represents a green historical turning point for both Norled and the rest of the maritime sector,
…says Chairman Ingvald Løyning in Norled.
Zero emissions in the ferry sector result in an emission reduction of 600,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Norway is already the world leader in zero and low emission technology. Last year, Norwegian shipbuilder Havyard delivered the first of thirteen battery-powered ferries with automatic fjord crossing functionality at Norwegian transport conglomerate Fjord 1.
