The Norwegian government continues its investments aimed at reducing emissions in the maritime sector without slowing down. The state-supported energy innovation fund Enova provided over $130 million in financing to seven Norwegian shipping companies last week, paving the way for the order of ten new emission-free vessels.

Among the supported projects, six of the vessels to be constructed will be battery-electric, two will be hydrogen-fueled, and two will operate on ammonia. These vessels will be added to the 22 eco-friendly ships currently under construction, most of which are also financed by Enova and will operate in Norwegian waters.

Electric ship projects received the largest share of this funding round. The maritime electrification unit of the Eitzen Group, Zen, qualified for a $20 million grant for two new battery-electric container ships. This support follows a similar grant given last year for two vessels belonging to the group's subsidiary, Avanti.

Zen recently announced that it has placed orders with Zhejiang Dongpeng Shipbuilding Company in China for its first two electric container ships. The vessels, each equipped with battery packs capable of 100 MWh, are expected to enter commercial service starting in 2029, ranking among the largest electric container ships in the world.

Another project supported by Enova is a fully electric passenger ship developed by Nordic Sea Concept. The company received an $8.6 million grant for the vessel, which will operate in the Norwegian fjords and will be equipped with a battery system with a capacity of 20 MWh.

Seistar, which operates in the field of fish transport vessels, also benefited from $13.6 million in support for the establishment of a charging infrastructure for a fully electric processing vessel. This project will enable emission-free transport and processing activities between fish farms and slaughterhouses.

Approximately $80 million has been allocated for hydrogen and ammonia-fueled ship projects. LH2 Shipping will receive $35 million to support the order of two bulk carriers that will operate on liquid hydrogen. Bergen Tankers will benefit from $44 million in support for ammonia-fueled tankers, backed by a long-term leasing commitment from energy company Equinor.

According to Enova's calculations, the supported projects will prevent over 46,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions annually. Enova's interim CEO, Rune Holmen, stated that the projects will pave the way for a comprehensive transformation in the maritime sector and provide a permanent reduction in emissions.

According to data from the international classification organization DNV, out of 3,785 ships registered in the Norwegian registry, 112 operate emission-free. This figure corresponds to approximately 3% of the country's fleet, while Norway continues to maintain its position as a pioneer in clean maritime technologies, particularly in battery-electric propulsion systems.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye