HyFuel
The hydrogen project at Fjord Base
HyFuel
HyFuel AS is owned by The Fjord Base Group, Sogn og Fjordane Energy and Gasnor. The goal is to produce sustainable green hydrogen at Fjord Base. HyFuel will develop, own, and operate a plant for producing hydrogen and hydrogenation of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC). The production is planned to include an industrial symbiosis with the land-based fish farm at Gaddholmen, to exploit the oxygen and waste heat. The company will deliver hydrogen and hydrogenated LOHC to marine transportation at home and abroad.
We have a great belief in green hydrogen and its importance to reach the climate goals. It is also exciting that we as local partners can create a project together that will make Florø take a leap into the green future.
– CEO SFE, Johannes Rauboti
Photo: A hydrogen plant is planned at Fjord Base to create a zero-emission fuel for marine shipping. Photo by Florin Andrei
More about the hydrogen project
The Norwegian marine shipping is responsible for a big amount of Norway’s emissions, approximately 3.2 million tons of CO2 annually. The goal is to halve the emissions from shipping within 2030, green solutions are necessary to establish soon. Sustainable hydrogen will have an important role in the years to come, and new methods for efficient production and utilization are developed. Hydrogen is a well-suited choice of zero-emission fuel for long-distance vessels, where battery operation is disadvantageous. Hydrogen can be saved in its pure form or in a hydrogen carrier such as LOHC. By storing hydrogen in a LOHC-oil, the risks are lowered without compromising the energy content.
Photo: Marita and Svein Arne are members of our hydrogen team. Photo: Photoevent
Innovative hydrogen production
HyFuel and its partners are today working on several projects for different hydrogen alternatives. The different ways of storing and using hydrogen make hydrogen a solution for several demands. The aim is to supply marine shipping with both compressed hydrogen gas and hydrogenated oil. The hydrogenated oil is better known as Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) and has a great potential for marine shipping. The LOHC-technology makes transportation and storing of hydrogen safer for both the environment and society.
Additionally, it can store up to three times more hydrogen per cubic meter compared with compressed hydrogen gas. The hydrogen is separated from the oil on board the ship when needed. As the oil is reuseable, the hydrogen-empty oil is returned to the plant for a refill of hydrogen and further use. The company will deliver hydrogen and hydrogenated LOHC to marine transportation at home and abroad.
Industrial symbioses at Gaddholmen
For every kilo of hydrogen, eight kilos of oxygen are produced in addition to heat. HyFuel intends to build a plant that supplies the nearby land-based fish farm with oxygen and heat in an industrial symbiosis. This circular economy approach will make our production of green hydrogen even more sustainable without letting resources go to waste.
A safe option
LOHC can safely be stored on board a vessel in the same way as MGO is today, without the limitations that liquid and compressed hydrogen faces. The fuel tanks used for diesel can still come to use, but with a zero-emission fuel instead. This benefits space-sensitive vessels that are reliant on keeping fuel below deck, as well as infrastructural costs are lower compared with other hydrogen solutions. The LOHC-oil is neither flammable nor toxic. The transportation and storage of hydrogen will, therefore, have a lower risk with the LOHC-technology, and thereby overcome several of hydrogen’s most prominent barriers.
The hydrogen and LOHC plants will be built at the outskirts of Gaddholmen, a new area west at Fjord Base. The advantageous location of Fjord Base enables efficient bunkering of fuel to vessels in sheltered waters, close to the city center and the passenger terminal in Florø. HyFuels hydrogen plant will be strategically placed for both cargo vessels and other passenger ships.
Why Florø?
Fjord Base is the largest supply base in Norway, and the starting point of Equinor’s supply activity to their 29 installations in the North Sea. Fjord Base is close to several oil fields; Visund, Knarr, Gjøa and Snorre, which makes Florø a natural destination of supply and installation vessels. There are also several ferries and express boats that stops by Florø. The demand of zero-emission fuel will only increase in the coming years, and hydrogen can make Fjord Base a large supplier.
A large supply base will also have road transportation of goods. Compressed hydrogen is predicted to become the new fuel for heavy transport. HyFuel’s plant at Fjord Base will be available for future hydrogen driven trucks as well. Ocean Hyway Cluster (OHC) – Norway’s most prominent hydrogen cluster, is also located here in Florø. And we, together with other members, contribute actively to make Norway world leading in marine hydrogen.
Feel free to contact us here
Vegard Lavik
Project Leader HyFuel
Mail: vegard.lavik@fjordbase.no
Phone: +47 915 75 993
