In early September, a delegation from mareFVG participated in a study visit to Norway to explore the growing interest, research, and technologies related to hydrogen in maritime transport, as part of the TransH2 project funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme. The visit to the organizations and authorities in Bergen and Stavanger enriched the entire partnership, which includes regional partners such as the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the University of Trieste, and Navalprogetti, a member of the cluster.

The delegation took inspiration from the ambitious plan of the Port of Bergen to become fossil-free by 2030—well ahead of the Paris Agreement timeline—through the full electrification of its docks and the promotion of incentive systems for less polluting vessels.

We also learned about the efforts of the Vestland County to drive the energy transition in maritime public transport, and the feasibility studies and cost-benefit assessments that helped strike the perfect balance between the conversion costs and the long-term benefits of electrification. These efforts also focus on optimizing energy carriers, fleet operations, and routes to reduce emissions. Innovation Norway, the country’s development funding institute, plays a key role in facilitating collaboration and partnerships between Norwegian and European businesses, fostering opportunities not only in hydrogen-related research but also across various sectors.

Furthermore, we visited the NORCE research institute, currently engaged in the HyValue joint venture, a research group focusing on the entire hydrogen value chain: production, distribution, use, safety, and legislation. The institute’s work intersects with the initiatives of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley. During the visit, we toured their pressurization labs, crucial for hydrogen storage, and their microbiology lab, where anaerobic microbial hydrogen production and the effects of microbial metabolism on hydrogen storage are studied. This demonstrated the breadth of sectors involved in hydrogen research.

Finally, the delegation boarded the MF Hydra, the world’s first hydrogen-powered ferry for passenger transport, which has been hailed as a revolutionary innovation in the sector, reducing its carbon emissions by over 95%. The vessel, owned by NORLED, one of Norway’s largest ferry operators, can carry up to 300 passengers and 80 vehicles. It operates at a cruising speed of 10 knots, completing up to 42 daily routes connecting three villages in the outskirts of Stavanger. The guided tour of the bridge and engine room, alongside the other study visit meetings, provided valuable insights that will inform the next stages of the TransH2 project.