Norway

Norway does not presently have an explicit, comprehensive strategy for developing hydrogen

infrastructure and related industries.

Although an advisory body – the Norwegian Hydrogen Council – was established by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in the early 2000s and delivered two hydrogen action plans (the most recent being for 2012-2015), it appears there was not complete follow-through by authorities.

Efforts to date have consequently been piecemeal, but more advanced than most other countries, with early efforts to demonstrate hydrogen technologies in automotive vehicles and shipping.

More recently, policy measures to promote adoption of zero-emission vehicles and a new programme to support the deployment of hydrogen stations have been introduced to promote the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, while funding support has been provided to develop hydrogen-powered shipping.

Norway’s considerable natural gas and renewable energy resources can be utilised to produce hydrogen on a large scale, and the country is currently participating in a Japanese pilot project that will produce hydrogen using renewable energy.