Northern Europe's Ferry Companies Eye Hydrogen for Green Operations
Key Ideas
- Ferry companies in northern Europe are considering the use of hydrogen for greener operations, with one ferry already in service.
- Samskip Kvitnos, a freight ferry operating between Rotterdam and Norway, received a grant for a pre-project study on converting to hydrogen fuel.
- Ferry operators face pressure to go green due to passenger clientele, with green fuel providing a competitive edge in attracting passengers.
- The shift towards hydrogen in ferry operations may still be a few years away, especially for longer services requiring more fuel.
Ferry companies in northern Europe are increasingly focusing on the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells for greener operations. One notable example is Samskip Kvitnos, a 120-meter-long freight ferry that operates between Rotterdam and the west coast of Norway. This ferry received a grant to conduct a pre-project study on the feasibility of converting to hydrogen fuel and fuel cells in the future. The use of hydrogen in ferry operations is particularly significant as ferry operators often cater to passengers, making the adoption of green fuel a competitive advantage in attracting customers. While one ferry is already in service using hydrogen, the broader transition towards hydrogen in the ferry industry, especially for longer routes that require more fuel, may still be a few years away. The pressure to embrace sustainable practices is driving ferry companies to explore cleaner alternatives, with hydrogen emerging as a promising solution for reducing emissions and meeting environmental targets.