Norwegian Hydrogen receives SEK 20 million to build hydrogen fueling stations in Sweden
In Lundbygatan on Visby, Biogas Gotland has a very much visited biogas station. Norwegian Hydrogen also wants to establish a hydrogen refueling station here.
Head of projects in Norwegian Hydrogen, Marianne Nærø, and Project Manager in Biogas Gotland, Michael Jansson, want to establish a complete energy station with all the solutions needed for emission-free heavy transport in Lundbygatan.
"This marks the start of building a new network of hydrogen filling stations aimed directly at heavy transport and is thus a major and important milestone for us. When the station opens, it will have a capacity of at least 1500kg of hydrogen per day, which is enough to fill 30-40 heavy-duty trucks."
Covers up to 100% of the cost
The support Norwegian Hydrogen has received comes from a support program called Regional Electrification Pilots. Through the program, the Swedish Energy Agency has provided support for a total of 13 new hydrogen fueling stations. The grant is intended to cover 100% of the costs, but Voie assumes that the total cost will be somewhat higher than SEK 20 million. "We see that the prices of equipment have increased significantly lately, and the grant will therefore not cover the entire investment. The overall support rate will nevertheless be very good compared to for instance in Norway.”
Asking Norwegian politicians to learn
In Norway, the maximum support rate for filling stations is 40%. But first, an end customer must have invested in heavy trucks. "I would encourage Norwegian politicians to learn from Sweden. The infrastructure must be in place first if we are to succeed in cutting emissions from heavy transport, and then the level of support must be increased. In Sweden, they launch competitions to decide who should receive grants to build their infrastructure."
Will build networks across the Nordic region
Norwegian Hydrogen has great ambitions and is in the process of building a network of hydrogen fueling stations aimed at heavy transport throughout the entire Nordic region. Last week, it was announced that the company acquired HydRe Oy, a Helsinki-based company hydrogen fueling company, focusing on Finland and the Baltics.
"We are actively working to find relevant locations, develop them, get in touch with potential customers, and trigger public support in order to expand the network as quickly as possible. Our goal is for trucks and other heavy vehicles to be able to drive emission-free. Then the infrastructure must be in place – and we will take a lead I this process," concludes Per Øyvind Voie.
This week, a delegation from Norwegian Hydrogen visited the location on Lundbygatan. Here together with Michael Jansson, Project Manager at Biogas Gotland.
