Press Release: “The aim of the Nordic Maritime Transport and Energy Research Program is to add Nordic value and establish synergies. I am particularly pleased to note participation from all Nordic countries, both in terms of academia and industrial stakeholders,” says Klaus Skytte, CEO at Nordic Energy Research.
The three research consortia are funded through a joint effort by Nordic Energy Research and several funding research institutions, including Business Finland, the Danish Energy Agency, the Icelandic Centre for Research, the Norwegian Research Council, and the Swedish Transport Administration. The consortia will run for two years starting on 1st March 2021.
The three selected consortia are:
- AEGIR: Ammonia electric marine power for GHG emission reduction – Project lead: Technical University of Denmark.
- CAHEMA: Concepts of ammonia/hydrogen engines for marine application – Project lead: Lund University.
- HOPE: Hydrogen fuel cells solutions in shipping in relation to other low carbon options – a Nordic perspective – Project lead: IVL Swedish Water and Environment Institute.
The three consortia have strong industrial support, which will pave the way for a rapid test and implementation of the research results. All projects focus on different ways to use, hydrogen and ammonia either in conventional fossil engines or directly in fuel cells.
Maritime Superpowers
Today the Nordic countries are major maritime actors both in terms of operating and owning ships as well as having thriving maritime clusters involved in shipbuilding, hull design, equipment and marine engines.
Transport – and especially maritime transport – is considered one of the hardest sectors of the economy to decarbonize. Since the Nordic region has a high ratio of renewable energy in its energy mix already, transport becomes one of the biggest remaining challenges.
The three selected consortia have a common ambition to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions as well as other pollutants from the shipping sector. This will be investigated through options including hydrogen and ammonia used as fuel in conventional combustion engines, fuel cells and, if possible, in combination with battery-electric propulsion system.
