email editor
Norwegian Loran green and innovative fishing boat will reduce fossil fuel consumption by more than 40 percent. Enova supports the vessel with NOK 92.5 million/€9.2m (Ill: Skipsteknisk)
The Norwegian shipping company Loran will develop a green and innovative fishing vessel that reduces fossil fuel use by more than 40 percent. It will also be prepared for future zero-emission operations. It has never been done before.
“The government wants to halve emissions from shipping by 2030. For ships moving over longer distances, hydrogen stands out as an important energy carrier. It is therefore gratifying that forward-looking players such as Loran are investing in emission reductions through innovative solutions for the aquaculture industry. This is how they put Norway on the map as the first in the world with an ocean-going fishing boat on hydrogen,” says Minister of Climate and Environment Espen Barth Eide (Labour).
“By being the first out with hydrogen, we hope that the new Loran will be one of the vessels that form the basis for a green shift in fishing. If we are to build a future-oriented and modern boat today, we would like to ensure that the newbuilding represents the most modern, efficient and environmentally friendly technology that can be obtained,” says general manager Ståle Otto Dyb in Loran.
Important step
For Enova, the most important thing about this project is to demonstrate the use of hydrogen in an ocean-going fishing vessel.
“Even though the project will not give zero emissions, Enova still considers it a first important step on the road, to demonstrate the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in vessels,” says CEO of Enova, Nils Kristian Nakstad.
Hybrid solution
The fishing boat will be out at sea for 4-6 weeks in a row and will need more energy sources to cover its power needs. The basic idea for this vessel is container-based storage of hydrogen, two 185 kW fuel cells and a 2000 kWh battery in addition to conventional diesel engines.
“Line fishing is the most gentle fishing for both fish and the seabed, and with hydrogen as the energy carrier, we can also become the most environmentally friendly fishing vessel in today’s fleet. We hope then that we can help raise the price and status of this great product which is of the highest quality,” says general manager Ståle Otto Dyb in Loran AS:
Zero emission design
The vessel was designed by the company Skipsteknisk AS, which has received support from Innovation Norway to develop a flexible design in relation to future zero-emission operations.
The design is made with energy efficiency in mind, heat recovery and the possibility of a zero-emission energy carrier when using hydrogen. The project contributes to cost reduction, not least for fishing vessels that can reuse the flexible design. This is demanding to develop and has a high cost for this first project.