Switching industrial processes to sustainable solutions is costly and technically challenging. As an input factor and application in the process industry hydrogen has great potential for use, this requires collaboration between hydrogen players and industry. In these areas, there is a large domestic market and a very large international market in which the cluster will work for Norwegian companies to take key positions.
The use of hydrogen for various transport purposes provides great opportunities for Norwegian value creation. The hydrogen cluster will focus on heavy transport. There is a need to develop efficient supply chain and infrastructure. New markets require new solutions that can give Norwegian companies a global market position by investing now. The strong interest in the use of hydrogen in the maritime sector, together with road transport, will lay the foundation for volume, profitability and a station density that both markets need to create attractiveness. The cluster will strengthen the uptake of hydrogen technology in the transport sector by disseminating knowledge of life cycle costs, investments and market benefits of being an early user of hydrogen in transport. Opportunities in the aviation sector are also interesting.
There are many business opportunities associated with stationary applications. Increased focus on emission-free construction sites, hybrid solutions that also include hydrogen as an energy solution for buildings, and the use of hydrogen and fuel cells as backup power for critical social infrastructure, such as telecommunications. Commercial solutions are available, but knowledge of reliability, energy efficiency and economy related to fuel cell plants must be increased. In other areas, there is a need for the development of new technology. The cluster will work to promote hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels, as well as to promote several innovation and pilot projects in the area.
Another part of the hydrogen value chain is the use of hydrogen in the conversion to an emission-free energy system, which requires interaction with controllable and non-regulable renewable energy sources. Hydrogen can be used for balancing grids and for off-grid solutions. Such solutions involve the need for advanced management systems, and cost-effective storage and distribution solutions. Here too, there is a growing domestic market and a very large international market, where Norwegian players are far ahead. The cluster will work to disseminate knowledge about such solutions and market opportunities, as well as contribute to the establishment of innovation projects. H2Cluster will also work to ensure that Norwegian companies work together to deliver comprehensive energy solutions internationally.