From Bergen - heading on a historic biogas voyage

- This is circular economy in practice. We use waste from agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and food along the Norwegian coast, says Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Kystruten.

The 2023-built MS Havila Polaris is the third Norwegian coastal cruise ferry operated by the Norwegian travel brand  Havila Voyages. She operates the year-round on Norway’s coastal ferry round trip from Bergen to Kirkenes. This is as 12-days trip,, calling at 34 ports along the itinerary. This route is served by two different companies and is government subsidized.

The route is a vital transport route for residents along the coast, but also a popular voyage for tourists. Switching to biogas is a groundbreaking step toward climate-neutral shipping. In addition to the bio fuels, the ships are loaded with the world's largest battery pack ever installed on a passenger ship, meaning that we can sail through vulnerable fjords, such as the world heritage Geirangerfjord, for four hours straight with zero emissions.  

The navigation bridge abord MS Havila Polaris is located at the top deck and is equipped with state of the art technology. Large sections of the top deck are covered with solar panels that generate part of the ship’s electricity. Photo: Charlotte Hartvigsen Lem.

Vestland – the port of frontrunners

The Havila Polaris voyage is a milestone that reinforces Vestland’s reputation as a frontrunner in the green maritime transition. By leveraging local resources and circular economy principles, the region is setting a global example for sustainable shipping.

Biogas is produced when organic material, such as manure, food waste, plant residues, and fish waste—is broken down by microorganisms in an oxygen-free environment. This creates a methane-rich gas that can be used for electricity, heating, and fuel. Because the raw material is biological, its combustion is considered CO₂-neutral, fitting perfectly into the natural carbon cycle.

A call for coastal investment

Shipowner Havila has established the daughter company Havila Biogas that is currently operating one bio gas plant and is planning to scale four more facilities, signaling a long-term commitment to green innovation.

However, Havila’s four ships alone would require half of Norway’s current biogas production to operate year-round. This underlines the urgent need for large-scale investment in biogas facilities along the Norwegian coast.

- Invest in Vestland thinks there are enormous potential to scale biogas production. Current output is around 800 gigawatt-hours, but experts believe it could grow to 12 terawatt-hours—enough to transform the maritime sector, says Tone Hartvedt in Invest in Vestland.

Interested in learning more about the opportunities? Don’t hesitate to contact any of our advisors.