LH2 Shipping Secures Additional Funding for Hydrogen-Powered Bulk Carrier Programme

Norwegian maritime developer LH2 Shipping has secured additional funding from Enova, Norway’s state-backed energy transition agency, to support the development of two more hydrogen-powered bulk carriers, expanding its planned fleet to six vessels.

The company announced that it has been awarded approximately $35.8 million in additional funding, bringing total support received from Enova to around $83.2 million. The latest grant will be used to advance the design and construction of the fifth and sixth vessels in its hydrogen-powered shortsea shipping programme.

Hydrogen Bulk Carriers Target Baltic and Northern European Trades

LH2 Shipping is developing a fleet of 7,700 dwt dry bulk carriers intended for shortsea shipping routes linking Norway with continental Europe and the Baltic region.

According to the company, the vessels are expected to spend approximately half of their operational time in Norwegian waters while serving cargo routes between Norway and ports across Northern Europe.

The ships are designed with an overall length of 108 metres and are being developed with a focus on improving energy efficiency. LH2 Shipping said the design aims to reduce energy consumption by at least 30% compared with conventional vessels operating on similar routes.

Liquid Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Propulsion System

The planned vessels will use liquid hydrogen (LH2) as their primary fuel source. Each vessel is expected to be equipped with a 17-tonne liquid hydrogen storage tank and approximately 3,400 kW of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells.

A 3 MWh battery system will complement the fuel cells, supporting vessel operations and enabling zero-emission manoeuvring while in port. The ships will also be configured to connect to shore power facilities during cargo operations where infrastructure is available.

As a contingency measure, the vessels will include backup diesel generator systems capable of operating on diesel or biodiesel if hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure is unavailable during the initial deployment phase.

Additional design features include solar panels installed on hatch covers to supplement onboard power generation.

Building on Experience from Norway’s Hydrogen Ferry

Founded in 2023, LH2 Shipping has been involved in the development of hydrogen-powered maritime solutions, including participation in the introduction of Norway’s MF Hydra ferry, one of the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered ferries.

The company intends to apply operational experience gained from ferry operations to the development of larger commercial shipping applications.

“This award is an important strategic milestone for LH2 Shipping,” said Ivan Østvik, CEO of LH2 Shipping. “It strengthens our position as a developer of liquid hydrogen-based zero-emission vessel solutions and brings us yet another step closer to our ambition of enabling a substantial fleet of hydrogen-powered vessels that can help establish a complete maritime liquid hydrogen value chain.”

Hydrogen Shipping Infrastructure Remains Key Challenge

While hydrogen is increasingly being evaluated as a potential zero-emission marine fuel, widespread adoption remains dependent on fuel production capacity, bunkering infrastructure, vessel technology development, and commercial viability.

LH2 Shipping said continued project execution and collaboration across the maritime sector will be critical to supporting the long-term deployment of hydrogen-powered shipping solutions.