Innovation Norway awards funding to Alma for zero-emission vessel technology

Up to 49m NOK (U$4.6m) has been awarded to Alma Clean Power from Innovation Norway for a project which will see Alma working on the development of environmental technology to enable zero-emission ocean-going ships.

“This is an important project for the green transition with a potential to contribute to the goal of a 50% reduction in emissions in international shipping,” said Håkon Haugli, CEO of Innovation Norway.

At present, Alma is continuing to develop more sustainable marine transportation through several ongoing projects. The latest project, however, will work to develop and deliver energy systems based on high-temperature fuel cells for use in ships. Designed to provide a high level of efficiency, the fuel cells will be built into a compact system and will be capable of using various types of fuel, including ammonia, methanol and other hydrogen carriers.

“The grant from Innovation Norway is crucial for us to be able to carry out a pilot project with customers who will use the solution,” said Bernt Skeie, CEO of Alma Clean Power. “The project will be important to develop Alma’s core technology, and to contribute to industrialization and commercialization.”

Alma Clean Power will need to have the solution certified to approve its use on board vessels. The R&D project is scheduled to last for three years and is estimated to cost a total of 163m NOK (U$15.4m). The system will now be tested as a pilot, and upon successful testing development, the company aims to establish a full-scale factory in 2026.

“This project has significant positive environmental effects, potential for value creation in Norway, and an international market potential as a technology that can contribute to zero-emission vessels,” commented Bjørnar Skjæran, minister of fisheries and ocean policy.

To read more on Innovation Norway, click here.