Photo: Invest in Bergen
The Maritime Hybrid & Electric and Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Conference was an annual conference launched in Bergen in 2019. The international conference was held again over three days in Bergen 18-20 October 2021. The extensive program featured speakers and participants from across the world brought together by the compelling benefits of reduced fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and lower-cost maintenance, the adoption of hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell technologies which is accelerating across the maritime sector. These clean technologies will play a pivotal role in the decades to come as the maritime sector transitions towards decarbonisation, and this conference brings together a wide variety of experts to dive deeper into the various solutions and challenges that we face on the decarbonisation journey.
This year’s agenda aimed at providing a detailed analysis of technology and regulatory developments over the past 12 months. It has covered innovations in battery and fuel cell technology, showcase the benefits of electrification, consider the long-term benefits of hydrogen fuel cells, assess the safety factors, and presented the latest updates on projects from across Europe.
There have been numerous successful projects in the field, and while many are eager to invest in the pilot stages of the program, how can the industry move into the next phase to scale these technologies? How do we insure a stable infrastructure when the infrastructure for future fuel does not yet exist and geopolitical uncertainties add increased uncertainty to renewable energy? How do we cooperate on a wider scale to increase the speed the adoption of these new technologies?
In Siv Remøy-Vangen´s keynote on alternative fuels for deep sea shipping, she states that what we hear back from our members is which fuel to choose is still uncertain and the availability of that fuel is one of the most important factors. Going forward, we can expect a more diversified fuel mix where we see experiments with LNG and LPG, more methanol technologies, more projects for onboard use of hydrogen and ammonia, and more demonstration projects of production and storage of ammonia and hydrogen. This also requires the development of a much needed infrastructure. We therefore need to continue to support research and development projects, push barriers and collaborate on a much higher level, and take a lead and be the change we need to meet the targets of 2050.
One of Maritime Bergen’s main partners, Corvus Energy, was strongly represented under all three days. Geir Bjørkeli, chief executive, underlined the necessity for the maritime industry to collaborate with battery manufacturers, ship designers, shipyards and innovators to produce the zero-emissions ships of the future. He said technology innovations will enable owners to consider different business models and make informed bets on solutions. “We are looking at energy-as-a-service as there are a lot of things we can do in the future,” said Mr Bjørkeli.
Kjetil Dent Tranberg, senior vice president for management of commercial products, also explained how the company’s next generation of Dolphin and Blue Whale energy storage solutions were modulised for future electrification projects. “Batteries have become the standard for more and more vessel types, volumes are increasing and we needed to rethink design to adapt to a more dynamic and modularised technology development,” said Mr Tranberg.
Photo: Riviera Maritime Media, Maritime Hybrid and Electric Conference
Maritime Bergen is a supporting organisation for this conference. We thank Riviera Maritime Media for a stimulating conference, and our esteemed members and partners for their significant contribution to this international discussion:
- Thor Humerfelt, Senior Vice President – Product Architect, Corvus Energy – Development of hydrogen fuel cell systems: tomorrow’s marine engine
- Maria Brandsøy, Business Opportunity Manager, Ocean Hyway Cluster – Development plans for hydrogen-based fuels
- Anders Mikkelsen, Business Development Manager North Europe, DNV – Hydrogen as the maritime fuel of the future
- Kjetil Theis Skaar, Senior Engineer, LMG Marin – Fuel cell integration: upcoming challenges and opportunity
- Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Managing Director, Maritime Battery Forum – The path to marine decarbonization and how regulations and emission reduction goals will affect the demand for maritime battery systems
- Henrik Helgesen, Senior Consultant, DNV – The global approach to net-zero in the maritime sector through hybrid and battery solutions: current safety trends and regulatory development?
- Siv Remøy-Vangen, Chief Executive Officer, Maritime Bergen – Status of, and opportunities for, hybrid and electric solutions in deep sea shipping
- Kjetil Dent Tranberg, SVP Commercial Product Management, Corvus Energy – Rethinking energy storage – next generation maritime batteries
- Morten Sundt, Manager – Maritime Operations, Equinor – Charterer’s approach to hybrid and electric operations
- Geir Bjørkeli, CEO, Corvus Energy – Panel discussion 2030 is on the horizon: is it time to speed up the decarbonisation drive?
- Nils Møllerup, Commercial Manager, Port of Bergen – The port of the future
