Norway
is one of the few lucky countries that are blessed with easily accessible and large amounts of
clean hydroelectric power. Most of the total electric power consumption is supplied
from waterfall turbines. In addition, Norway is one of the largest oil and
natural gas exporting countries in the world. This large excess of energy
sources does not really encourage research in renewable energy. Since the early foundation of Norsk Hydro in
1905,
hydrogen has been produced in large amounts in connection with fertilizer
production. The in-expensive electric power has lead to the development of highly
efficient water
electrolysis technology. Norsk Hydro is one of the leading companies in the
world and has developed one of the first commercial hydrogen filling stations
in co-operation with Shell Hydrogen. Over
the years, Norwegian companies have gained a lot of experience in production,
storge and
transport of natural gas and hydrogen.
The
largest oil company in Norway, Statoil, was one of the early developers of the
solid oxide fuel cell in the 1980's. Together
with Prototech (Bergen), they investigated the possibilities of using natural
gas in high-temperature SOFC. After a quiet period, Statoil has again intensified
this activity. Together with the other large power-based companies, like Norsk Hydro,
Statkraft, Norske Shell and AkerKværner, they are the leaders of fuel cell
development in Norway. The vision is a renewable and secure power supply based on
natural gas and hydrogen. Amongst universities and research centres, it is mainly
the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU),
University of Oslo (UiO), State College of Agder (HiA), Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) and SINTEF which
perform project-based research for the industry or the Norwegian Research
Counsil (NFR).
Examples of planned and already ongoing projects include fuel cells as auxiliary
power units on ships, power supply on off-shore platforms, stationary power
plants and completely off-grid power supply of an island.
Hydrogen filling station in Reykjavik,
developed by Shell Hydrogen and Norsk Hydro Electrolysers.
What
are the possibilities for Norway in the area of fuel cells and hydrogen? We
have one of the largest natural gas resources in the world, from which the most
cost-effective hydrogen can be produced. In addition, our enormous amounts of
clean power (hydroelectricity, wind, wave i.e.) makes it possible to produce the most
environmentally friendly hydrogen via water electrolysis. This, combined with
significant knowledge on gas handling, equips Norway with the potential to be
one of the key players in developing the hydrogen and fuel cell society.