LH2 Shipping Secures MNOK 237,6 to Cut CO₂ Emissions

LH2 Shipping is taking a leading role as the world’s first two bulk carriers powered by liquid hydrogen (LH₂), eliminating CO₂ emissions at sea, have received Enova support for their construction. This milestone award marks a shift in focus from ferries at short fjord crossings, to applying LH₂ ship technology for a wide range of seagoing vessel types — from container and general cargo vessels to offshore supply and cruise, which addresses large, impactful segments of the maritime industry, where emissions reductions can be achieved at scale.

LH₂ operation at sea has been demonstrated for two years to be a safe and robust solution onboard Norled’s pilot project M/F Hydra, where LH2 Shipping personnel worked as project managers. The new cargo ship project will scale up this technology to short sea shipping operations, and will, in addition to an efficient operation offering long range at sea, eliminate CO₂ emissions, which will both meet future CO₂ emission reduction requirements within shipping and provide added value for cargo owners in relation to future requirements.

CEO Ivan Østvik, LH2 Shipping

We are very pleased with this award and would like to thank Enova for the support so far from the pre-project phase and now into the construction phase. This enables us 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. At the same time, we ensure ship operators and cargo owners staying ahead of increasingly strict emissions regulations — by offering safe and emission-free solutions at sea, says CEO and owner of LH2 Shipping, Ivan Oestvik.

With foreseen charges for CO₂ emissions, the EU ETS, Fuel EU Maritime and upcoming IMO scheme, the cost gap between fossil fuels and alternative fuels is minimised. The business case of zero-emission vessels, and their operations, is expected to improve significantly, especially after 2030 when the CO₂ emission fees are further increased.

Development of Norwegian hydrogen infrastructure for maritime consumers

Only the availability of maritime LH₂ fuel infrastructure along the coast will enable shipowners to move forward with investment decisions for LH₂ powered vessels.

In LH2 Shipping, we look forward to build ships promoting the realisation of efficient and affordable LH₂ supply chain infrastructure along the coast, says Oestvik.

Stepping up - From inland ferries to shortsea shipping

LH2 Shipping has long developed ship concepts and is now ramping up its efforts. The company is helping shape zero-emission vessels that support LH₂ production, advance industry knowledge, and drive the shift to carbon-free maritime transport—delivering range, endurance, and safety without compromising performance.

LH2 Shipping is now scaling up and expanding into new ship segments where fuel cells and batteries work together in hybrid systems to provide reliable and safe solutions at sea.

We see that fuel cells and batteries are working very well together in hybrid systems where different routes and ship types provides different system combinations. Some routes can be operated 100% on batteries whereas fuel cells and LH₂ are added where range and charging issues are dominant, Oestvik says.

Taking leadership, advancing proven Technology

Investment in zero-emission ship development demonstrates a clear commitment to climate leadership and sets a global example for the green transition at sea. We are deeply grateful to ENOVA and the support mechanisms that make real, large sale decarbonisation of shipping possible. This aligns closely with our core ambition: to make zero-emission sea transport a practical reality, says Lars Jacob Engelsen, Chair of the Board of the company.

The company's commitment to enabling emission-free shipping is also linked to the vision of working actively to help solve the dominant challenges in the global maritime industry.

Enova support for projects aimed at developing zero-emission vessels is paving the way for a cleaner maritime future and positioning Norway at the forefront of sustainable shipping innovation, concludes Oestvik.

Press Release in Norwegian, press here.

Please find ENOVA’s Press Release here.

For more information contact:

Ivan Østvik
CEO / Owner, LH2 Shipping AS
ivan@lh2shipping.no
+47 995 30 720

Maria Schütz Fløisand
Director Communication & PR, LH2 Shipping AS
maria.floisand@poppelhuset.no
+47 920 30 905