Sandnessjøen Scores Big Hydrogen Plant

Helgeland Port Authority and hydrogen producer GreenH will build a large-scale facility for production and bunkering of green hydrogen at Horvnes near Sandnessjøen. The grid company Linea has now confirmed a 20 MW reservation for the project.

“Hydrogen is the fuel of the future for larger and heavier transportation. To produce green hydrogen, we rely on access to renewable energy. The reservation from Linea is for the first construction phase, with possibilities for scaling up. Ultimately, the planned facility could serve the entire Helgeland region,” says Project Manager Ida Synnøve Bukkholm at GreenH.

Sandnessjøen is centrally located in the shipping lane, and Helgeland Port connects northern and central Norway with around 25,000 calls last year. In a few years, most ships will be able to bunker directly from the plant or have hydrogen containers loaded on board.

“We know hydrogen will play a key role in the transition to climate-neutral maritime transport. It has also been highlighted as essential for zero emissions on the Coastal Route and express boats, where Sandnessjøen is an important hub for these vessels. Hydrogen availability in Sandnessjøen means the port can gain an even more central position along the Norwegian coast and likely see more calls in the future,” Bukkholm says.

GreenH has established an excellent collaboration with stakeholders in Sandnessjøen.

“The cooperation with Linea, Alstahaug municipality and Helgeland Port is crucial for the project’s success. We’re working on projects all along the coast and commend our partners in Sandnessjøen. The municipality and port have been proactive since our first call – it means a lot for the project’s progress,” says Bukkholm.

The hydrogen plant will have ripple effects locally and regionally.

“It will create local jobs with round-the-clock shift work, likely between 10-15 full-time equivalents at the facility. Beyond that, there will be major regional impacts through the construction period, more calls, and increased activity at Helgeland Port,” Bukkholm adds.

GreenH’s Projects in Nordland

GreenH aims to develop multiple hydrogen production hubs located closest to end-users. In August 2023, the company announced a 15-year supply deal with Torghatten Nord for the Lofoten ferries (Vestfjorden). Currently, no large-scale green hydrogen production exists in Norway, but with the Bodø project, GreenH is set to become one of the first producers.

Few established solutions exist for hydrogen bunkering. GreenH is developing a direct bunkering solution from the plant to vessels, initially realized in Bodø. In Sandnessjøen, the company will establish the same direct bunkering capability, as well as loading hydrogen containers onto ships.