Zero-emission solutions: Climate commitments creates competitiveness for Vestland

This week, Bergen hosted the global Maritime, Electric & Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference 2025. The three-day event explored different angles for all is needed for a zero-emission future: Advanced ship design and propulsion systems, digital solutions, green technologies, regulatory changes and infrastructure development.

The overall message was that we have reached a stage where technology is ready. However, these are our key learning points for problems that need solving if we should keep moving toward zero emission fuels in maritime sector. The upside is that they all could be viewed as investments opportunities.

Accelerate investment in production capacity

First: The supply chain for future fuels is immature. Production facilities are limited; transportation and storage infrastructures are not yet widespread. Producing green hydrogen, ammonia, or biofuels at scale, are still expensive, making is hard to match cost competitiveness with traditional marine fuels.  Hence there is a need for speed to accelerate investment in production capacity for hydrogen, ammonia, bio-methanol and other green fuels, including modular plants to scale with demand.

This includes also a build out of bunkering facilities and shore power infrastructure in ports and harbours, ensuring safety, storage, and regulatory compliance.

Norway has formalised zero-emission requirements for smaller passenger ships in World Heritage fjords from 2026, requiring use of zero emission fuels or biogas (where permitted) and shore power where available. Requirements for lager vessels will follow in 2032. Photo: Rolf Sørensen.  

Calling for regulatory incentives

The regulatory framework still has gaps. Rules for emissions, safety, bunkering, fuel certification etc. need to be clearer and internationally aligned.

Also needed is monitoring, feedback and adaptive regulation. Governments need to ensure regulations are realistic, backed by technological innovation, allowing for phased implementation rather than sudden shocks.

Several speakers also called for financial incentives, like subsidies, tax regimes, performance requirement. They are all mitigating risk for shipowners and operators to adopt new fuels or retrofit existing vessels.

A collaborative mindset

Also mentioned by several speakers was the need for updated knowledge. Workforce development is vital and includes training in new technologies, safety procedures, handling of novel fuels, servicing of fuel cell systems.

This must be handled within the companies, but there is also here a need for collaboration across industry, government, research institutions to share best practices, pilot projects, and safety standards. 

Norway aims to show leadership in the path towards zero-emissions. By locating your business in Bergen, you can get access to business support systems, such as funding from Enova, Innovasjon Norge and county council grants, support innovation and early deployment. Photo: Charlotte Hartvigsen Lem.  

The location for testing and scaling

Vestland has several strengths that give the region an advantage in this transition.

Firstly, Vestland’s long coastline, fjords, offshore activity, and many existing ferry routes give both urgent need and ideal test cases for short-range zero emission operations as well as longer supply routes. Proximity to electricity/hydro power sources helps for getting green electricity for hydrogen or producing fuels cleanly.

This long ocean history is the foundation of at complete maritime value chain. Shipyards, maritime technology companies, vessel operators, and retrofitting capacity are already present in the region. There is technical experience with battery-electric ferries and innovations in vessel design.

This ecosystem was the reason why Vestland was the first region to roll out electric ferries, there is experience in design, operation, procurement, maintenance that can be leveraged for newer kinds of fuel systems (hydrogen, ammonia) and for retrofits. This makes Vestland a demonstration hub, the best location to scale your solutions.

The coming years will be decisive: turning pilots into large-scale deployments, enabling robust supply-chains, and balancing cost with environmental necessity. Those who move early may capture both climate benefits and economic value.

Invest in Vestland is committed to connecting global maritime technology companies with the right partners, projects, and ecosystems here on the Norwegian west coast. Can we guide you into the region’s ecosystems? Reach out!