The Norwegian hydrogen strategy

The strategy sets the course for the government's efforts to stimulate development of hydrogen-related technologies.

You can read the strategy here.

Hydrogen as an energy carrier can contribute to reduction of greenhouse gases and create value for the Norwegian business sector. The government wishes to prioritise efforts in areas where Norway, Norwegian enterprises and technology clusters may influence the development of hydrogen related technologies, and where there are opportunites for increased value creation and green growth.

For hydrogen to be a low-carbon or emission-free energy carrier, it must be produced with no or low emissions, such as through water electrolysis, with renewable electricity, or from natural gas with carbon capture and storage.

Today, technology maturity and high costs represent barriers for increased use of hydrogen, especially in the transport sector and as feedstock in parts of industry. If hydrogen and hydrogen-based solutions such as ammonia are to be used in new areas, both the technology and the solutions must become more mature. In this respect, further technology development will be vital.

— An important goal for the government is to increase the amount of pilot- and demonstration projects in Norway by contributing to and supporting technology development and commercialisation. There is a broad commitment to zero emission technologies and  solutions through our existing support schemes. In addition, the green transition package presented by the government 3 June contains an enforced and significant commitment to hydrogen, says Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tina Bru.

A few days before the strategy was presented, the Norwegian government on 29 May proposed to grant 120 million NOK to the ENERGIX-programme under the Norwegian Research Council. Hydrogen-related technologies and solutions will have a central role in this programme.

Clean transport and industry

In Norway, some sectors seem to be particularly relevant for the use of hydrogen. These are the maritime sector, heavy duty transport and industrial processes.

The government has an ambitious policy for zero emissions solutions in the transport sector, using several institutions to promote it. The Norwegian Research Council, Innovation Norway and the state enterprise Enova contribute to development and demonstration, for instance through joint calls in the PILOT-E programme.

Through the Zero Emission Fund, Enova contributes to early market introduction of hydrogen solutions for vehicles and vessels used by business. Through the green restructuring package, Enova is also considerably strengthened in order to to increase technology development in industry and contribute to green transition – including technology development for hydrogen.

 Hydrogen will be an important contributor towards a low emission society, particularly for transport and industry. We have strengthened several of the instruments bringing hydrogen solutions closer to the market, says Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn.

As part of the green restructuring package the government proposes to increase funding by 20 million NOK allocated to high-speed vessels under the funding facility "Klimasats". This facility increases the regions' work on promoting zero- and low emission high-speed passenger ferries, including hydrogen powered vessels.