Höegh Autoliners and Norwegian green energy provider North Ammonia have formed a partnership for the supply, distribution, delivery, and consumption of green ammonia fuel, produced using renewable energy.
The partnership will enable Höegh Autoliners to meet its commitment to powering at least 5% of its deep-sea operation with green ammonia by 2030 (part of the company’s First Movers Coalition pledge) and the aim of consuming at least 100 000t tons of green ammonia within the fleet by that same year.
Partnering with North Ammonia marks another sustainability milestone for Höegh Autoliners and is considered an important step on the path to zero carbon. The green ammonia will be used in the company’s ammonia-ready dual-fuel Aurora class vessels, eight of which have been ordered, with two scheduled for delivery every six months starting from the second half of 2024.
Designed to carry up to 9,100 cars, with strengthened decks and enhanced internal ramp systems to enable electric vehicles on all decks, the ships are intended to provide more flexibility for heavier project cargo. Securing the supply and delivery of green ammonia from North Ammonia’s planned production facility in Arendal in southern Norway will help Höegh Autoliners source green ammonia safely, efficiently, and cost-competitively as a frontrunner in the maritime sector.
Höegh Autoliners’ CEO Andreas Enger said: “We are proud to partner with an ambitious Norwegian green ammonia supplier to transition towards a more sustainable future. This collaboration will not only reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint. It will also set a new standard for the industry as a whole and assist our partners and customers in decarbonising their supply chain. We are receiving positive feedback and strong signals from major car manufacturers in Europe about enabling lower-emission transport of cars from the manufacturing site to the customers. We are excited to be at the forefront of the movement towards a greener, more sustainable future for all.”
COO Höegh Autoliners, Sebjørn Dahl said: “Höegh Autoliners is investing heavily in future technology, low emission fuels and newbuilds to further strengthen our service offering and meet our ambitious environmental targets and those of our customers. The fact that green ammonia is becoming a totally viable maritime fuel is a game-changer for our industry. We believe it will set the standard for others to follow. I thought this development would be achievable in 10 years’ time. But technology is moving faster than expected and the future is here. This partnership will ensure that we and our Norwegian industry suppliers will be well-positioned for seizing that very future. With this partnership, we are adding yet another steppingstone in designing the infrastructure of the future – with a green and sustainable focus.”
North Ammonia was established by Grieg Maritime Group and Arendals Fossekompani in 2021 to enable change in the maritime sector. The aim is to make green ammonia available at large scale and become Norway’s number one green energy provider for the maritime sector.
North Ammonia CEO Vidar Lundberg said: “We are proud to support Höegh Autoliners’ ambitious sustainability initiative. In the maritime energy transition, we are dependent on first movers such as Höegh and this partnership demonstrates the growing demand for green ammonia in deep-sea shipping. As an infrastructure developer, we hope that this collaboration will inspire other companies in the industry to develop and order environmentally friendly vessels.”
North Ammonia has selected the Eydehavn site at the Port of Arendal as the location for production, storage and export infrastructure. The site is both strategically positioned as a pathway to the rest of Europe and for green ammonia production with efficient access to the power grid and supply of renewable power. The target for the commencement of operations is in 2027. The bunkering location for the green ammonia in the partnership with Höegh Autoliners is likely to take place in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam Antwerp area. The distribution of the green ammonia to bunkering locations in Europe may be provided by Grieg’s future ammonia bunkering vessels.
