Norway’s Enova has awarded about $49 million (NOK 490.6 million) for two projects aimed at building bulk carriers using liquid hydrogen or ammonia as fuel.
In the first project, Bergen-headquartered LH2 Shipping has received NOK 237.6 million ($23.7 million) for the construction of two 5,000 DWT bulk carriers that will be powered by liquid hydrogen.
The 96-metre-long vessels will use fuel cells alongside batteries in hybrid systems, enabling them to operate 100% emission-free all year round, LH2 Shipping said in a statement published on 30 June.
The vessels will feature 11 tonnes of LH2 storage capacity and 2 MW power output on PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells, as well as a 1 MWt battery pack.
Designed by Norwegian naval architecture firm LMG Marin, the ships’ hull and propulsion systems are expected to have 30% lower energy requirements compared to existing ships in the same segment, according to the company.
The vessels will also be fitted with a wind propulsion system which is anticipated to further reduce energy consumption by approximately 10% annually.
They will be operated on short-sea shipping routes between Norway, Sweden and the European mainland, and would most likely refuel with liquid hydrogen in the Oslo Fjord area, LH2 Shipping told Bunkerspot.
With the financing now in place, the vessels are scheduled to enter operations in Q1 2029, aligning with fuel production, the company confirmed.
The CEO and owner of LH2 Shipping, Ivan Oestvik, said the financial support would enable the company to ‘accelerate the development of fully emission-free vessels, using a combination of fuel cells and batteries in hybrid systems, whilst ensuring reliable, future-proof operations.
‘We look forward to build ships promoting the realisation of efficient and affordable LH₂ supply chain infrastructure along the coast,’ Oestvik added.
Amon Maritime’s ammonia-fuelled bulk carriers
In a separate project, Amon Maritime has secured a NOK 253 million ($25.3 million) investment grant from Enova to support the construction of two large bulk carriers to be powered by ammonia.
The Amon Bulk 1 will be a Capesize bulk carrier of around 180,000 DWT designed for long-haul transport of heavy bulk commodities, while the Amon Bulk 2 will be a Kamsarmax bulk carrier of approximately 80,000-85,000 DWT.
‘With Amon Bulk, we are taking a significant step toward decarbonising bulk trades in deep-sea shipping with ammonia fuel,’ said André Risholm, CEO of Amon Maritime.
‘The Capesize and Kamsarmax segments are ideal for ammonia adoption,’ he added. ‘These vessels have high fuel consumption and operate on established routes for industrial clients with strong climate ambitions. This combination enables both substantial environmental impact and solid commercial viability.’
The company has indicated it is now entering the next phase of shipyard evaluation and tendesing process, with the vessels scheduled for delivery by 2029.
Related: Rune Holmen, Head of maritime transport at Enova, explains Enova’s approach to supporting maritime decarbonisation in Norway in an interview on the ship.energy podcast
Photo: LH2 Shipping’s Hydrobulk, powered by liquid hydrogen (credit: LH2 Shipping AS / Sigve Hoff Larsen)
