Germany and Norway: Collaborating for Hydrogen Supply Chains

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Germany and Norway join forces to develop clean hydrogen supply chains
Germany and Norway join forces to develop clean hydrogen supply chains, aiming to boost energy security and the transition to sustainable energy sources

Germany’s Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) and Norwegian energy infrastructure provider Höegh Evi have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing supply chains for clean hydrogen.

Their joint efforts aim to establish international corridors for hydrogen, produced from ammonia, to be delivered to Germany and other European locations. This partnership reflects the increasing focus on hydrogen as a key element in Europe’s transition to cleaner energy sources.

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Mapping the hydrogen supply chain

The collaboration centres on establishing the technical and commercial framework for a clean hydrogen supply chain.

At its core, the agreement focuses on sourcing ammonia, transporting it by ship and processing it at floating import terminals.

Once delivered, the ammonia will be converted into hydrogen through a process called "cracking," enabling SEFE to supply this clean hydrogen to its customers through Germany’s hydrogen core grid.

Floating ammonia-to-hydrogen terminals will be a critical feature of this plan.

The partners intend to identify potential terminal locations along Germany's Baltic and North Sea coasts and elsewhere in Europe. These terminals will play a pivotal role in ensuring hydrogen availability for industrial users, providing a stable and reliable energy source at scale.

SEFE’s responsibilities include managing both ends of the supply chain. This involves sourcing ammonia on a global scale, aggregating hydrogen demand within Germany and Europe - and investing in the German hydrogen grid through its subsidiary, GASCADE.

Meanwhile, Höegh Evi will handle midstream infrastructure. This includes transporting ammonia by sea and providing floating terminals equipped with ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion technology.

According to the partners, these floating terminals will offer a "dispatchable and baseload-ready" hydrogen supply, meaning they can meet fluctuating energy demands while maintaining industrial-scale output.

(Credit: Höegh Evi)

Expanding hydrogen capacity in Europe

SEFE and Höegh Evi’s partnership builds on earlier hydrogen agreements, reflecting the growing ambition to diversify Europe’s energy sources.

In 2024, SEFE struck a deal with Brazil’s Eletrobras and Kuwaiti firm EnerTech to deliver 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to Germany by 2030.

In our relentless quest to provide our customers with competitive clean hydrogen, we are pleased to be partnering with Höegh Evi to explore the technical and economic viability of different supply chain opportunities.

With Höegh Evi’s pioneering technology in the field of floating import terminals including the cracking of ammonia to hydrogen within the terminal and the deep customer understanding we have gained over the last decades, we have the best conditions to develop international clean hydrogen supply chains to make the energy transition a reality

Hamead Ahrary, Chief Sustainability Officer for SEFE
Hamead Ahrary, Chief Sustainability Officer for SEFE

This hydrogen will be produced using Brazil’s abundant hydropower resources. Once shipped to Germany, SEFE plans to distribute it to European customers through dedicated infrastructure.

Höegh Evi also made strides in advancing Europe’s hydrogen capacity in 2024, following its rebranding from Höegh LNG. This change signified a strategic shift from focusing solely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) to supporting the energy transition.

The company now specialises in floating infrastructure for hydrogen and ammonia, alongside carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions.

One of Höegh Evi’s key initiatives involves developing a floating hydrogen import terminal with the French port of Port-La Nouvelle. This MoU aims to create a European hub for hydrogen imports, which the partners believe will accelerate the shift to clean energy across the continent.

“Establishing global supply chains for hydrogen is a major step towards advancing the energy transition in Germany and Europe," adds Erik Nyheim, CEO of Höegh Evi.

"SEFE is leading the way by investing in the German hydrogen core grid and developing global and local partnerships for the production, sourcing and supply of cost-competitive clean hydrogen for Germany and Europe. 

Erik Nyheim, CEO of Höegh Evi

"Höegh Evi is proud to contribute to this endeavour with its world-leading expertise in floating infrastructure and unique hydrogen terminal solutions. In Germany and across Europe, we are developing infrastructure that creates new pathways to decarbonisation via global market corridors for clean hydrogen.” 

Höegh Evi’s ambition aligns with the larger vision shared with SEFE, focusing on scaling up the supply of hydrogen to support energy security and sustainability in Europe.

A vital step for Europe’s energy future

Hydrogen’s role in Europe’s clean energy future is increasingly evident, and partnerships such as the one between SEFE and Höegh Evi are critical for turning this vision into reality.

Their efforts address key challenges in hydrogen logistics, from sourcing and transportation to large-scale conversion and delivery.

By integrating floating infrastructure and strategically located terminals, the partnership lays the groundwork for a robust hydrogen network across Europe.

As the demand for cleaner energy continues to grow, SEFE and Höegh Evi’s collaboration represents an essential step in building a sustainable energy ecosystem.

Höegh Evi’s focus on flexible, floating solutions complements SEFE’s broad hydrogen strategy, allowing both organisations to leverage their expertise for maximum impact.


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