(Lysaker / Norway) – Norwegian fuel cell manufacturer Teco 2030 ASA will receive 5,4 million Norwegian krone (0,5 million euros) in indirect government funding to develop its first semi-automated hydrogen fuel cell production line at its new factory. The support was provided under the Norwegian Research Council's Skattefunn scheme, which is a tax deduction scheme to support research and development (R&D) activities in Norwegian companies.
Teco 2030 is currently building a combined one innovation center and a factory in Narvik in northern Norway. According to managing director Tore Enger, pilot production is scheduled to begin “in the second half of 2022”. The funding concerns the development of a state-of-the-art fuel cell production line with a total annual production capacity of 400 megawatts. The tax relief was granted for the two years 2021 and 2022.
CO2 reduction in ship exhaust gases
It is already Teco 2030's second successful Skattefunn application. At the beginning of the month, the company received tax breaks worth four million crowns (0,4 million euros) for the development of solutions that capture CO2 from ship exhaust and transport it until it arrives of the ship can be stored in liquid form in the port.
After discharge, the CO2 can either be stored permanently in geological formations underground or used in CO2-consuming industries such as the energy industry or the food and beverage industry.
The CO2 capture technology was developed together with the US company Chart Industries, Inc. It has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry by more than 2050 percent by 30, according to a study by the Norwegian certification company DNV (“DNV Maritime Forecast to 2050”). Teco 2030 is currently in the process of spinning off its “Carbon Capture” division into the new subsidiary “Teco 2030 Carbon Capture AS”, which will also be based in Narvik.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a goal of reducing carbon intensity in international shipping by 2030 percent by 40 and reducing total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 2050 percent by 50 compared to 2008 levels.
Investments of almost 100.000 million euros
The Teco 2030 Marine Fuel Cell is said to be “the world’s first fuel cell system specifically designed for use on board ships and other heavy-duty applications.” By replacing one or more engines, ships could switch from fossil fuels to hydrogen and reduce their emissions to zero; either on the entire journey or on shorter routes, such as when entering and leaving ports.
Over the next ten years, Teco 2030 expects total investments in the Narvik plant of up to one billion crowns (99 million euros). During this period, 500 new jobs could be created there in the areas of development, pilot production and series production.
In 2022, fuel cells with a total output of ten megawatts will be produced in the factory; 2030 gigawatts annually in 1,2. Because production of fuel cells for use in the maritime industry is still in its early stages, research communities, universities and nonprofit organizations could use the plant's testing facilities, the company said.
deep link
https://teco2030.no/news/
Photos
Norway is supporting Teco 2030 with tax breaks. © Teco 2030
