Next Nordic Green Transport Wave
Electrification of the transport sector already began and the Nordic countries, specifically Norway and Iceland, have taken major steps resulting in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) already accounting for a substantial percentage of the total sales. The world is looking towards the Nordics as they are providing global examples for success.
However, little is happening regarding larger vehicles as battery solution still are not able to provide heavy-duty users (e.g., buses, trucks and lorries) the mobility they need. Fuel cell electric vehicles using hydrogen as a fuel can solve this.
The goal for Next Wave is to further stimulate the global technological lead, which the Nordic countries have by stimulating the very first hydrogen infrastructure roll-out for larger vehicles while at the same time map how the infrastructure build-up needs to be done, so that the transition to hydrogen vehicles can happen smoothly. Such roll-out will also benefit the use of hydrogen for trains and the maritime sector. In the Nordic region we have the unique opportunity to produce the hydrogen in a green manner exploiting renewable electricity production. However, a large-scale rollout of FC trucks and busses will require a proper infrastructure, and the Nordic national hydrogen associations are prepared to take on this challenge.
Already, Nordic industries have taken international lead in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells and a unique cooperation exists between “hydrogen companies” via the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership (SHHP) cooperation. Jointly they have marketed the Nordic platform for hydrogen and, at the same time, paved the way for vehicle manufacturers to deploy such vehicles in the Nordic countries. When it comes to hydrogen, the Nordics have globally leading companies both within the infrastructure and the fuel cell business.
The Norwegian Hydrogen Forum, Icelandic New Energy, Hydrogen Denmark, Vätgas Sweden and the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland have already taken a common initiative through the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership (SHHP) to highlight hydrogen development projects in small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Next Wave project has three key target groups:
- The industrial partners – vehicles and infrastructure
- The industrial partners – users
- Governments at all levels; national, regional, and city
As the goal of thee Next Wave project is to adress the decarbonisation of the transport sector the main focus will be on heavy duty transport as this segment presents the most challenges.
The short-term goal of the project is fourfold:
- To perform thorough analysis on large-scale transport of hydrogen
- To develop and design an integrated hydrogen infrastructure roll-out plan for heavy-duty vehicles
- To encourage Nordic industry to join forces in delivering such hydrogen equipment
- To stimulate Nordic companies to demand and use hydrogen for heavy-duty transport
The long-term effect of the project will be:
- Nordic industry having internationally leading positions in supplying hydrogen infrastructure
- Harmonized deployment of hydrogen infrastructure in the Nordic countries
- A common hydrogen strategy for the Nordic countries developed by the Nordic Council
- Reduced CO2-emissions from heavy-duty transport
Find more information about the Next Wave project here.
Nordic Council of Ministers
Nordic Innovation is an organization under the Nordic Council of Ministers that works to promote sustainable growth, entrepreneurship, innovation and competitiveness in Nordic business. The Nordic Council of Ministers is the official intergovernmental body for cooperation in the Nordic region.
Nordic Innovation
Nordic Innovation has has co-funded the SHHP partnership to facilitate a hydrogen infrastructure for larger vehicles through the establishing of the Next Wave project (Next Nordic Green Transport Wave – Large Vehicles).
