Norwegian company Teco 2030 is developing its first semi-automated production line for hydrogen fuel cells at its new facility in northern Norway for use in the maritime sector.
Credit: Teco 2030
“We are in the process of setting up a combined innovation centre and factory in Narvik in northern Norway, where we will produce hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells are the engines of tomorrow and convert hydrogen into electricity while emitting nothing but water vapour and warm air,” said Tore Enger, founder and CEO of Teco 2030.
Narvik is the perfect location for the plant because it has an abundance of cheap, renewable electricity, is accessible by sea, rail, road and air transport, and has a deep-water port which remains ice-free all year round.
Furthermore, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway has a campus in Narvik, which offers courses in hydrogen and fuel cell technology will provide the TECO 2030 Innovation Center Narvik with easy access to highly qualified graduates who already live in the region.
Teco's factory and innovation centre in Narvik will become Norway’s first large-scale production of hydrogen fuel cells. The company plans to start hiring people to work there in the first half of 2022.
Over the next ten years, TECO 2030 expects total investments in the plant in Narvik to amount to up to NOK 1 billion. During that period, up to 500 new jobs may be created in Narvik within development, pilot production and full-scale production.
Teco plans to produce fuel cells with a total capacity of 10 MW in 2022, and intends to gradually scale up the plant’s output over the following years. By 2030, the factory will be able to produce 1.2 GW of fuel cells every year, which is likely to lead to several billions of NOK in annual turnover.
The Teco 2030 Marine Fuel Cell is the first fuel cell system in the world that is specifically designed for use onboard ships and on other heavy-duty applications.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reduce carbon intensity in international shipping by 40% by 2030, and to cut the total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.
Ship-owners across the world will therefore have to do something to make their vessels more climate-friendly, and TECO 2030 will help them with that.
In addition to hydrogen fuel cells, the company is developing carbon capture and exhaust gas cleaning systems for the maritime industry, which will enable ships running on fossil fuels to reduce their environmental and climate footprints.
The production of fuel cells for use within the maritime industry is still in its early stages, and the company will therefore give research communities – such as universities and other non-profit organisations – the opportunity to use the plant’s fuel cell element testing facilities during periods when they are not used.
“Looking ahead, we are confident that the future will be bright for Teco, and that the international maritime industry soon will face more stringent environmental regulations, which will boost the demand for our products,” Enger said.
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