Grønn skipsfart

                                                                                          Sjekkes mot fremføring

Your Majesty,

Your Royal Highness,

Minister,

Mayor of Oslo,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Norway is among the few nations with a complete maritime cluster. This industry has not only been vital to Norway’s history but remains crucial to our economy today.

Looking forward, we see this sector as a powerful driver for sustainable value creation, generating green jobs and playing a crucial role in our climate ambitions.

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Supporting the green transition of this sector is therefore a vital part of Norway’s maritime policy.

It is a field in constant evolution, with rapid technological breakthroughs that are challenging to keep up with – yet it is exactly this pace of innovation that drives us forward.

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What the future holds for shipping remains uncertain.

Likely, we will see a combination of emerging technologies and fuels. 

In Norway, we have already proven batteries to be an important zero emission solution for shorter routes, while for longer distances, we are exploring hydrogen and ammonia.

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To cut climate gas emissions across sectors, the Norwegian government is implementing various measures:

We are boosting energy production, including offshore wind, streamlining licensing processes for energy production, and reinforcing the energy grid.

Carbon Capture and Storage-solutions, also play a critical role in cutting emissions across industries. 

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Today, we witness concrete steps towards establishing hydrogen value chains here in Norway.

For example, the Hydra ferry has shown that liquified hydrogen works in shipping, and from 2026, two ferries in Lofoten are expected to run on pressurized hydrogen.

In June, Enova allocated over one billion Norwegian kroner for nine hydrogen vessels and six ammonia vessels.

These projects prove how effective public procurement and funding can be in the green transition.

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On the production side, various projects are emerging.

This summer, Yara International officially opened Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant at Herøya,

A much smaller example is Hellesylt Hydrogen Hub, which is utilizing “seasonal excess power” from four local rivers to produce hydrogen.

Just last week, Enova announced funding for five new green hydrogen plants across Norway, with a total of 777 million kroner.

These initiatives demonstrate that Norway is on a promising path to decarbonize challenging sectors.

Yet, the larger challenge remains the decarbonization of international shipping, which must evolve hand in hand with

world trade – a trade that continues to grow, and with it, so does the emissions.

The long-term goal must be to establish a global market for hydrogen.

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Dear all,

Being a frontrunner is not without risk. Therefore, regional, and international partnerships are vital.

Through the Clydebank-declaration and the ongoing collaboration between our harbours and industry actors, our two countries are setting a global example of what sustainable shipping can look like.  

Together, we are not just investing in a green maritime future, we are building a foundation for the competitiveness of our industries for generations to come.

Thank you for your attention!

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