The business partners represent world-leading expertise in their fields: Stuart Energy Systems Corporation is a leader in the electrolysis-based production of hydrogen, while Corporación Energía Hidroeléctricia de Navarra S.A. (EHN) is Europe's second-largest windpower producer. Statkraft is Europe's second-largest producer of renewable energy.
Energy carrier of the future
The three business partners believe that hydrogen produced using environmentally friendly energy will play an important role as the energy carrier of the future. Hydrogen as a fuel has no emissions other than water and can be used, for example, in vehicles or for combined electricity and heating solutions. Hydrogen is the world's most easily available fuel, since it is extracted from water using electricity. If the electricity is generated from renewable energy sources such as water or wind, hydrogen is also the world's most environmentally friendly fuel.
The three business partners believe that hydrogen produced using environmentally friendly energy will play an important role as the energy carrier of the future. Hydrogen as a fuel has no emissions other than water and can be used, for example, in vehicles or for combined electricity and heating solutions. Hydrogen is the world's most easily available fuel, since it is extracted from water using electricity. If the electricity is generated from renewable energy sources such as water or wind, hydrogen is also the world's most environmentally friendly fuel.
"This is exciting for Statkraft, which has a wide-ranging commitment to environmentally friendly energy solutions. With hydrogen as an energy carrier, our pure, renewable energy can benefit entirely new areas, such as the transport sector," says Bård Mikkelsen, Statkraft's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Demonstration facility in Norway
The agreement means that the business partners will establish various research projects. Among other things, Statkraft will establish a hydrogen demonstration facility in Norway. EHN will also establish hydrogen filling stations in Navarra in Spain, where the hydrogen produced will be used to run three city buses in Pamplona. These demonstration projects will provide practical insight into how technically useful and financially profitable hydrogen is as a fuel.
The agreement means that the business partners will establish various research projects. Among other things, Statkraft will establish a hydrogen demonstration facility in Norway. EHN will also establish hydrogen filling stations in Navarra in Spain, where the hydrogen produced will be used to run three city buses in Pamplona. These demonstration projects will provide practical insight into how technically useful and financially profitable hydrogen is as a fuel.
The collaboration will also lead to a research project being established at SINTEF (The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the University of Trondheim) to study the production of hydrogen using renewable energy. This project will be supported by the Research Council of Norway and coordinated with a similar project at the University of Navarra.
Statkraft is Norway's largest producer of electricity. The company's own production capacity comprises an average of just over 42 TWh annually - or around 1/3 of the hydropower generated in Norway. The Statkraft Group has approximately 2,100 employees, including those in Skagerak Energi and Trondheim Energiverk. Statkraft is Norway's biggest land-based taxpayer. Statkraft has ownership shares in BKK, Agder Energi and Fjordkraft, all Norwegian power companies. In size, the Statkraft Alliance is the third largest in the Nordic production market and the second largest in the Norwegian consumer market.