Nordic Projects to Reduce CO2 Emissions in the Maritime Sector

Nordic Innovation has funded five new projects through the Nordic Innovation Mobility Mission: Sea Meets Land.

Published: 20.03.2020 Updated: 14.02.2022

To bring shipping in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, the maritime sector needs to reduce CO₂ absolute emissions by 50 % by 2050. This requires major advancements in technology as well as shifts in business models and in the ways of operating, including in the interface between land and sea.

To support innovation and collaboration in this interface, Nordic Innovation launched a Mobility Mission: Sea Meets Land with the aim of decarbonizing Nordic ports, transport of people and goods – on and between sea and land.

As a result of a long co-creation process, workshops and matchmaking events seven projects were formulated. Five of these projects have now been awarded funding.

“The projects target Nordic ports, the maritime industry and the interface between land and sea-based transport – all vital in the green transition. We believe that this portfolio of Nordic projects will bring us an important step closer to a more sustainable and zero-emission future ", says Mikael von Dorrien, Senior Innovation Adviser at Nordic Innovation.

"Some of the projects have the potential to reduce carbon emissions in the maritime sector by accelerating the transition to energy efficiency and usage of green energy sources, while others aim for innovation and decarbonizing of Nordic ports", von Dorrien adds.

The projects are:

Zero Emission Distribution at Sea ZEEDS

ZEEDS aims to create a network of offshore platforms that uses wind and/or solar to produce, store and distribute zero emissions fuels in a network of clean energy hubs placed near one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Partners: Wärtsilä; Aker Solutions; DFDS; Grieg Star; Kværner; Equinor

The Maritime Energy Transition project (MAREN)

MAREN is a Nordic Network that aims to speed up the transition from conventional to green energy sources in maritime sector. The network will involve businesses, raise awareness about needs and possibilities, develop and share knowledge, and be a platform for further cooperation-based development in the sector.

Partners: Renewable Energy Cluster; RISE; Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Erhvervshus Fyn, Future Innovations AS

New Offshore Wind Ports in the Nordics

This project aims to uncover specific opportunities for collaboration and strategic innovation between stakeholders at Nordic ports by creating capabilities for joint direction and execution to foster long-term business opportunities to Nordic companies and ports in the offshore wind industry.

Partners: Energy Innovation Cluster; Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster; Offshore Väst; Roenne havn, Karmsund havn, Trelleborg havn

Nordic Green Ammonia Powered Ships

The project will develop a holistic proof of concept and roadmap for the construction of the world’s first ammonia powered deep sea vessel.

Partners: Global Maritime Forum; Lauritzen-Kosan; Yara; Wärtsilä; MAN Energy Solutions; DNV-GL; Ørsted; Danish Shipping Finance; DNB

On Shore Power Supply in the Nordic Region

This project consists of a feasibility study of on shore power supply, including a campaign to show the technical possibilities as well as grants available for investments.

Partners: Danish Maritime; NCE Maritime Cleantech; Powercon; SSPA; Danske Havne; World Maritime University; Danfoss Drives

Background

In 2019 Nordic Innovation invited experts and stakeholders within the maritime and land-based transport sectors to a series of workshops in Reykjavik, Turku and Gothenburg to explore opportunities for potential joint Nordic mobility missions. Based on inputs from the workshops, we formulated a NOK 8 million Nordic Innovation Mobility Mission with the aim of decarbonizing Nordic ports, transport of people and goods. The mission was soft-launched at the Nor-Shipping conference in June 2019 and had an application deadline 14 January 2020.

The Nordic Innovation Mobility Mission: Sea Meets Land is part of our Nordic Smart Mobility and Connectivity program.