‘Frozen hydrogen’ production begins in the Arctic — 1.55 GW to 109,000 tons at nearly 0ºF

A green energy project bound to go down in history may hopefully become a reality soon. This project entails ‘frozen hydrogen’ production in the Arctic, specifically by establishing an integrated system powered by renewable energy. It will be the first of its kind in this region of the Arctic Circle, and is expected to produce an estimated 109,000 tons thanks to a combined power of 1.55 GW at temperatures below freezing. Find out more about this project below.

Facing a transitional period head-on

It comes as no surprise that the world is experiencing a significant increase in energy demand, especially as the population continues to grow and technology advances, which also require substantial amounts of power (such as AI and data centers). Even the global leader in renewable and secure energy, Norway, is facing challenges in meeting energy demand and is currently in a transitional period.

According to a report by the International Energy Agency, the country’s demand has skyrocketed due to the increased rate of transport electrification. Its existing power grid is further pressured by industry (such as data centers) and heating demands. Fortunately, a ‘frozen hydrogen’ production project in the Arctic may begin soon, which could address these demand challenges.

‘Frozen hydrogen’ production in the Arctic

In a world that has become seemingly mad for hydrogen, Norway will be joining the hype, as it has received funding for hydrogen and ammonia ships. Furthermore, the Norwegian developer, H2Carrrier, has submitted an application to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) to construct two gigantic onshore wind farms in Finnmark, which experiences 1.4 °F during January’s frigid winters.

These wind farms, respectively known as the Oksefjorden wind farm and the Rubbedalshøgda wind farm, will have a combined capacity of 1.55 GW and will primarily power green ammonia and hydrogen production. According to a report by Fuel Cell Works, the two wind farms will be at:

• The Skjøtnigberg/Nordkyn peninsula and
• The Varanger peninsula

Together, they will produce an annual power rate of 6,356 GWH, highlighting the country’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint.

This is when the project will go live

According to H2Carrier’s website, the applications for both of the wind farms transitioned to public hearings in September 2024, and final concession applications are planned to be submitted by late 2026. This means it may be a while before we get to witness this gigantic project move into production. What makes this project particularly interesting is that the ‘frozen hydrogen’ and ammonia production will take place on board a floating vessel.

This vessel will be the first of its kind in the world, and the wind power will reportedly enable annual production of 109,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 106,000 tonnes of ammonia. The CEO of H2Carrier had the following to say:

“We are pleased to present plans for two large green energy projects in Finnmark, which allow us to leverage technologies and processes developed from Norway’s offshore oil and gas activities. It is important to us that the projects have been developed and designed in close co-operation with the host municipalities. The limited grid capacity in Finnmark represents a bottleneck for the development of new renewable power. By establishing new green industries in a floating production vessel adjacent to the wind farm, we are no longer dependent on an expansion of the national grid.” – Marten Lunde

H2Carrier’s mega-project has the potential to address Norway’s growing challenge of meeting energy demands, and may even help provide green solutions to hard-to-decarbonise sectors. Furthermore, its economy will benefit significantly if the project’s final concession applications are approved, resulting in more job opportunities. While you await the verdict, we recommend having a look at other great projects, such as Spain’s largest 25 MW green hydrogen facility.