Provaris join forces with Norwegian Hydrogen to rePower the EU

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January 12, 2023

Provaris Energy Ltd has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Norwegian Hydrogen AS, a Norwegian-based developer of hydrogen production hubs and value chains across the Nordic region, to collaborate on the development on green hydrogen value chain projects in the Nordics.

The MOU provides a framework to jointly undertake a Concept Design Study to:

Review identified sites and select a preferred location suitable for domestic and export volumes of hydrogen.
Undertake a technical and economic review for the production and supply of compressed gaseous green hydrogen to nominated European ports.

The scope of the study will include the renewable power supply, production of hydrogen, compression facilities, storage, infrastructure for jetty loading and unloading, Provaris’ H2Neo carrier, and import infrastructure required at identified import locations. Application for suitable funding schemes available through national schemes and the European Union will also be made.

Martin Carolan, Provaris Managing Director and CEO commented:

“Provaris is delighted to collaborate with Norwegian Hydrogen to accelerate our development ambitions of an integrated export hydrogen project from the Nordic region that will benefit from the simplicity and efficiency of compressed hydrogen as a marine carrier.”

The Nordic region offers several advantages that can include low-cost hydro power, proximity to offtake markets and supportive governments committed to supplying hydrogen to Europe. This collaboration also has strategic alignment with the development timeline of our H2Neo carrier and validation of the increasing interest for our compressed H2 transport solution for hydrogen supply into Europe.”

Jens Berge, Norwegian Hydrogen’s CEO commented:

“We are excited to work with Provaris on a solution which will bring green hydrogen to the EU market in a flexible, cost effective and timely manner. The vast experience and diverse capabilities within the combined Provaris and Norwegian Hydrogen team, along with a huge demand for green hydrogen in the EU, makes this a great opportunity for both parties.”

Per Roed, Provaris Chief Technical Officer added:

“In August 2022, Provaris Norway AS was established strategically as our European hub to establish partnerships that can leverage the availability of low-cost, stable green energy in close proximity to major European import hubs. Our collaboration with Norwegian Hydrogen is an example of our strategy to position the Nordics a first-mover and leader in export projects. We are very excited to join forces with Norwegian Hydrogen who share our ambition to target fast-track opportunities to commence hydrogen exports.”

Atlantic Shores to become second major tenant at New Jersey wind port

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January 11, 2023

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, through which the company will lease 35 acres of land at the New Jersey Wind Port, in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County.

Atlantic Shores will initially use the New Jersey Wind Port for marshaling of the 1.5 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind project off the New Jersey coast being developed by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC, which will produce enough clean energy to power over 700,000 homes. The company expects the project to create more than 200 new jobs at the Port.

Atlantic Shores’ lease is expected to start in mid-2026 for a period of up to three years and options to extend, creating long-term value for the State and the facilitation of future offshore wind projects.

Atlantic Shores’ use of the Port is expected to create approximately 200 direct jobs, including trades, stevedores, preassembly and installation technicians, and project management personnel – with significant indirect benefits expected for the local and regional economy. Atlantic Shores is the second wind developer to execute an LOI for use of the Port, following execution of an LOI with Ørsted in April 2022.

NJEDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Sullivan said:

“As the second of two major companies to choose the New Jersey Wind Port for assembling and launching East Coast offshore wind projects, Atlantic Shores clearly recognizes the Port’s strategic and tactical advantages.”

Sullivan noted that one of the key advantages of the New Jersey Wind Port for offshore wind developers is the opportunity to be co-located with Tier 1 component manufacturers. This proximity allows for cost efficiencies in installation to the ultimate benefit of New Jersey ratepayers.

The Authority issued a notice to lease in late 2021, attracting 16 offers, demonstrating the huge demand across the U.S. east coast for fit-for-purpose port capacity. Negotiations with several tier 1 component manufacturers about establishing turbine factories at the Port are ongoing, and the NJEDA expects to make further announcements in late 2023.

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind CEO Joris Veldhoven said:

“Atlantic Shores is thrilled to partner with the NJEDA and utilize the New Jersey Wind Port to marshal the materials and resources required to deliver New Jersey’s largest offshore wind project. The location offers outstanding waterside access without barriers to transporting assembled turbines vertically and allows us to tap into New Jersey’s highly skilled talent pool and robust workforce development programs. In conjunction with our on-site nacelle assembly facility, Atlantic Shores is proud to contribute to New Jersey’s infrastructure and clean energy economy.”

Nuvera expands maritime industry engagement

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January 11, 2023

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Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC announces the sale of two Nuvera® E-60 Fuel Cell Engines to Nexus Energy, a sustainable innovation company based in the Netherlands that is developing modular zero emission solutions for maritime and on-shore applications.

Nexus Energy will use the 60 kW hydrogen fuel cell engines in the development of a common modular powerpack for maritime and on-shore use, for both stationary and heavy-duty applications.

Santiago Bresani, Nuvera’s sales and business development leader in Europe, said:

“Fuel cells are a very attractive solution for the maritime sector, which is especially difficult to decarbonize. Used by fuel cells to produce electricity, hydrogen provides a clean alternative to gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines and can provide either primary propulsion or auxiliary power to vessels of any class – large or small, commercial or recreational.”

Fuel cells for maritime applications is emerging as a sensible option as the industry transitions to zero-emissions operation.

Wouter Guijt, co-founder of Nexus Energy, said:

“The use of hydrogen fuel cells eliminates exhaust pollution and reduces vibration, noise, and environmental costs associated with diesel-powered vessels. In many applications, battery electric boats are not suited to the operational profile and range requirements or charging options are not available. We’re excited to be teaming with Nuvera to bring the operational and commercial benefits of high-performance fuel cell technology to the maritime and heavy duty sector.”

Nuvera fuel cell engines help maritime vessel and equipment manufacturers to comply with tightening emissions regulations and mandates and remain economically competitive by providing high-performance zero-emission power solutions fueled by clean hydrogen. The International Maritime Organization is targeting a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Many governments and maritime industry players believe 100% is the appropriate goal.

Norway: Wintershall Dea awarded 11 licences in APA 2022 round

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January 11, 2023

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Wintershall Dea has been awarded 11 exploration licences in the annual Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) licencing round in Norway, including three as operator. The awards strengthen the company’s position as a leading operator with a strategy of exploring in areas near existing infrastructure.

“We highly value the consistency of the APA system, which provides regular and reliable access to new acreage in mature areas of the Norwegian Shelf. These awards will help to replenish our licence portfolio and provide further exploration drilling opportunities in the coming years.” said Michael Zechner, Managing Director Wintershall Dea Norge, after the awards were announced by Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland, on January 10.

The APA 2022 awards, which include five new licences and six area extensions, are all located in mature areas of the Norwegian Shelf where Wintershall Dea has an existing acreage position.

Of the four awarded licences in the North Sea, two (both operated) are located close to Wintershall Dea’s own operated Vega and Nova fields. The seven other new licences are located in the Norwegian Sea, where Wintershall Dea operates the Maria and Dvalin fields.

“We have been very successful with our exploration strategy in Norway in recent years, which is primarily focused on exploring close to our own fields and infrastructure. The high number of awards demonstrates our commitment to continue exploring the Norwegian Continental Shelf, and underlines Wintershall Dea’s position as one of the leading explorers in Norway,” said Georg Bresser, Senior Vice President Global Exploration.

Wintershall Dea has participated in numerous discoveries in the APA area in recent years, including the operated Bergknapp and Dvalin North discoveries made in 2020 and 2021 respectively, as well as the Ofelia, Hamlet, Storjo, Newt and Oswig East discoveries in 2022.

Following participation in a total of ten exploration wells in Norway in 2022, the new awards further strengthen Wintershall Dea’s position as one of the leading explorers on the shelf. Besides replenishing the licence portfolio, the awards provide Wintershall Dea with the opportunity to apply new ideas to areas that have been licensed several times before. This strategy has proven highly successful in recent years, with a total of 17 discoveries in Norway since Wintershall and Dea merged to form a new company in 2019.

The Ministry awarded a total of 47 licences to 25 companies in the APA 2022 licensing round. The round comprises blocks in predefined areas in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.

NYK conducts a trial use of Starlink

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January 11, 2023

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In December 2022, NYK conducted a trial use of Starlink, a satellite communication service operated by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), on a ship managed by NYK Shipmanagement Pte. Ltd. (Singapore).

Because ship–shore communications are currently conducted via high orbit satellites, the communication speed on board ships is slower than on land. Still, higher communication speed requires the use of expensive high-capacity communications. Starlink, on the other hand, uses low-orbit satellites, allowing higher speed and capacity at a lower cost than conventional communications.

NYK aims to maintain and improve seafarers’ work motivation by expanding their benefits by facilitating communication between seafarers working on board and their families and friends ashore.

In addition, videoconferencing between vessels and land facilitates conventional business communication that relies on emails and telephone calls, contributing to safe operations by providing a real-time onshore support system in the event of equipment failure or trouble, or remote medical treatment for seafarers.

Introducing the Starlink service will enable to realize the autonomous navigation technology NYK is currently working on, share weather and marine weather information between vessels and land in the sea area they sail through, and further promote DX onboard operations.

The trials were conducted on container vessels and resulted in significantly higher transmission speeds than previously available along the North American continental coast.

The NYK Group will work with various partners to create maritime innovations by promoting higher ship-shore communication speeds and taking thorough measures to address cyber risks.

Neptune Energy awarded new licences in Norway

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January 11, 2023

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The new licences are located close to existing infrastructure in the Gjøa and Fram areas of the Norwegian North Sea, where Neptune already has a presence, reflecting the company’s exploration strategy to focus on key opportunities within core areas.

Neptune Energy’s Managing Director in Norway and the UK, Odin Estensen, said:

“Neptune has continued to demonstrate its ability to convert exploration success into development and production in a safe, timely and cost-efficient manner. Through this latest licensing round, we continue to build a sustainable exploration portfolio in our core areas.

“These licence awards further strengthen Neptune`s growing position in Norway and emphasise the importance of the Norwegian Continental Shelf to our global business.”

Neptune’s Director of Subsurface in Norway, Steinar Meland, added:

“We are pleased to have been awarded an operatorship in the vicinity of our operated Gjøa area where we hope to build on 2022’s exploration success.”

The APA licensing round is held once a year in mature areas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Silverstream to install its air lubrication system on four CMES vessels

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January 11, 2023

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The agreement for four firm installations and two options will see Silverstream’s proven technology fitted onto the very first Chinese-owned, Chinese-built LNGCs in the global fleet.

The installations will take place over the next two years, with work expected to be completed by the end of 2024, in line with DSIC’s building schedule.

The order further underpins Silverstream’s strong track record in the large LNGC segment, bringing the company’s total number of contracted LNGCs to 23 vessels, eight of which are already in-service. It also follows another recent deal with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to install the Silverstream® System on six of the first LNGCs built at China’s Jiangnan shipyard.

The new 175cbm LNGCs being built at DSIC are each jointly classed between China Classification Society and Lloyd’s Register, American Bureau of Shipping, DNV and Bureau Veritas respectively.

The Silverstream® System will cut the vessels’ fuel consumption and emissions by 5-10% net and is effective in all sea conditions. It will co-exist onboard with a number of other technological innovations including a Mark III membrane cargo containment system and an LNG dual-fuel propulsion chain.

Speaking on the announcement, Noah Silberschmidt, Founder & CEO, Silverstream Technologies, said:

“We are delighted to announce this new deal with China Merchants Energy Shipping that will see our technology installed on the very first Chinese-owned, Chinese-built LNGCs in the world. It comes thanks to our proven track record of cutting emissions and fuel consumption in one of the shipping industry’s most important operating sectors.

“The agreement strengthens our cooperation with CMES in LNG ship investment and builds on our already strong relationship with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company. We look forward to working on these vessels and deepening the ties between Silverstream’s Shanghai presence and the region’s most important maritime players over the next two years.”

The installation of Silverstream’s technology on the new LNGCs comes as part of CMES’s strategy to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations in the near term. Alongside installing the Silverstream® System to cut fuel consumption and CO2, CMES is also sharing voyage and ship data with BHP and DNV to help slash the environmental impact of its fleet.

HHLA and Linde Engineering build hydrogen filling station in the Port of Hamburg

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January 10, 2023

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Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has commissioned Linde Engineering to build a hydrogen filling station within the scope of its Clean Port & Logistics innovation cluster.

The hydrogen filling station is being developed within the scope of HHLA’s Clean Port & Logistics cluster to fuel hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles and terminal equipment and to test them in operation. HHLA will operate the filling station as part of its cluster activities in the Port of Hamburg. Linde Engineering and HHLA are thus creating a reliable refuelling infrastructure for heavy equipment in the Port of Hamburg. The filling station is expected to begin operation in 2023.

The heart of the filling station is an energy-efficient high-pressure ionic compressor that compresses the hydrogen up to 450 bar. This will allow equipment such as straddle carriers, empty container stackers, forklift trucks, reach stackers, terminal tractor units and trucks to be refuelled with hydrogen efficiently. Moreover, the filling station incorporates various options for expansion.

Dr Georg Böttner, head of the HHLA Hydrogen Network, explains:

“Our commissioning of Linde Engineering to build the hydrogen filling station is the next milestone for our hydrogen activities in the Clean Port & Logistics cluster. With the construction of the filling station, the required infrastructure is now being created to speed up the transition to emissions-free heavy goods logistics and port operations, and to drive forward the decarbonisation of logistics.”

Dr Alexander Unterschütz, Executive Vice President Components, Linde Engineering, emphasises:

“We are delighted to support this forward-looking project with our technology. Efficient, and most importantly, safe refuelling of various hydrogen vehicles is essential for sustainable and seamless port operations.”

HHLA established Clean Port & Logistics (CPL) as an innovation cluster to test hydrogen-powered equipment in port logistics. The aim of the project is to examine how hydrogen can be used to reliably supply power to harbour technology and port logistics. HHLA is working with partner companies from around the world to develop solutions to bring hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles and terminal equipment to market quickly and to put in place the measures necessary for their use. The concepts developed for operation, safety, repair, maintenance, refuelling and supply are tested and optimised in practical operation. The heart of the CPL innovation cluster is a test centre at HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg, where hydrogen-powered equipment can be tested on actual port handling operations and heavy goods transport.

The cluster is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of a national innovation programme for hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The funding guidelines are coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PTJ).

Vår Energi awarded 12 new NCS licenses

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January 10, 2023

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The results were announced today by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Vår Energi is offered licenses in both the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea – most of them in areas close to existing infrastructure.

Rune Oldervoll, Vår Energi EVP Exploration & Production is pleased with the results:

“We are offered licenses that strengthen our position in important areas. The licenses support our long-term growth strategy and give us continuity in our work to develop opportunities and create value.”

Vår Energi CEO Torger Rød underlines the importance of the APA rounds:

“Continuous access to new exploration area is the foundation for value creation and further development of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Stable frame conditions enable efficient exploration and field development. It creates activity for the Norwegian supplier industry as well as ripple effects for our local societies.”

CCG accepts delivery of two more Bay Class high-endurance lifeboats

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January 10, 2023

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The Canadian Coast Guard keeps waterways safe for mariners, protects the marine environment and responds to over 6,000 calls for marine assistance each year. On an average day, they coordinate the response to 19 search and rescue incidents, assist 68 people and save 18 lives. This is why providing Canadian Coast Guard personnel with the vessels they need to deliver these critical services to Canadians remains a priority for the Government of Canada.

The Canadian Coast Guard has marked the delivery of the 13th and 14th search and rescue lifeboats: the CCGS Gabarus Bay and the CCGS Chedabucto Bay. The vessels were built by Hike Metal Products Ltd from Wheatley, Ontario and Chantier Naval Forillon from Gaspé, Quebec, respectively.

The delivery of the CCGS Gabarus Bay and CCGS Chedabucto Bay marks another important milestone for the construction and delivery of a total of 20 search and rescue lifeboats under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This achievement is an important step in equipping the Canadian Coast Guard with safe, modern, and Canadian-made equipment needed to deliver critical services.

The CCGS Chedabucto Bay will be stationed in Clark’s Harbour, Nova Scotia while the CCGS Gabarus Bay will be stationed in Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador.

These search and rescue vessels are also equipped to assist in marine environmental response operations to reduce the impacts of marine pollution incidents.

The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, said:

“With the completion of the CCGS Gabarus Bay and CCGS Chedabucto Bay, the National Shipbuilding Strategy delivered top of the line Canadian-built vessels to the Canadian Coast Guard. These vessels demonstrate the Government of Canada’s priority to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, protect seafarers in our waters, and advance good-paying jobs constructing ships right here in Canada.”

Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, said:

“These high endurance search and rescue vessels help us keep our waters safe for mariners. Having CCGS Chedabucto Bay and CCGS Gabarus Bay join our fleet provides us with great pride. These vessels allow the Canadian Coast Guard to deliver critical services in the Atlantic region. Congratulations to Hike Metal Products and Chantier Naval Forillon workforces for their hard work to bring these impressive ships into the fleet.”