
Hydrogen, Ammonia, and Methanol in Hydrogen Hubs in the Nordic Region, H2AMN
The study will increase knowledge about the opportunities for Nordic ports to function as energy hubs in hydrogen-based energy systems. The project investigates, among other things, analyses of potential symbioses with surrounding local energy companies and industries and marine applications. Technical studies on hydrogen storage options in various forms are also carried out.
The project Hydrogen, Ammonia, and Methanol in Hydrogen Hubs in the Nordic Region, H2AMN has a budget of SEK 18.7 million and has parties from Sweden, Iceland and Norway.
Project partners:
Luleå University of Technology, University of Iceland, IVL Swedish Environmental Institute, Port of Gothenburg, Blámi, Statkraft, Landsvirkjun, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Luleå Energi, Port of Piteå, SSAB.

The project team at the kick-off meeting at IVL in Stockholm 11/9 2023
Summary H2AMN
The Nordic countries aim for reaching carbon-neutrality. Fossil-free hydrogen and hydrogen-based energy carriers are key in such a development, in particular in hard-to-abate sectors like industrial- and heavy duty transport systems including shipping. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the potential role of fossil-free hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuel pathways such as ammonia and methanol in different types of Nordic ports. One important aspect to be studied is how the surrounding areas and the various near-by actors influence the suitability of different hydrogen-based fuels in their strive to become fossil-free energy hubs.
The project carries out case studies of ports with completely different characteristics and surrounding environments in various Nordic locations. The outcomes include for example scientifically based decision support to facilitate, and contribute to, the implementation of these pathways in and around Nordic ports. The case studies include Iceland (exemplified by the Westfjords area with Port of Isafjordur and the Bakki/Husavik area in Northern Iceland), Port of Gothenburg (including marine application) and ports in Northern Sweden. The long-term effect of this project is increased knowledge on fossil-free hydrogen, ammonia, or methanol in ports as local energy hubs and thereby better decision support. The project will also investigate potential new business opportunities for different actors, such as energy companies, hydrogen and electrofuels producers, bunker providers, technology providers, etc. The project also includes policy and market assessments, as well as scenario and energy systems analyses. Additionally, an important part of the project is to investigate conditions for storage of hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels in ports. Here, the focus lies on using existing rock caverns in the port areas or in their vicinities. The findings will be synthesized and put into a generic Nordic perspective. The study is carried out in close collaboration in between Luleå University of Technology, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, University of Iceland, NTNU and seven stakeholders with hydrogen demonstration interests.
Background and state-of-the-art
Hydrogen and hydrogen-based energy carriers are often identified as key technologies in future sustainable low-carbon energy and transport systems both on a global and regional level, but also contribute to increased security of supply (DNV, 2022; IEA, 2022; Lehtveer et al., 2019; Wråke et al., 2021). Also in the EU, hydrogen has been pointed out as a key for reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 (EC, 2020). The interest of hydrogen in the Nordic countries is confirmed by the national roadmaps and strategies related to hydrogen (Business Finland, 2020; Government of Iceland, 2021; Norwegian Government, 2020; Danish government, 2021; Swedish Energy Agency, 2021) and has been explored from an overall Nordic perspective in NER (2022).
Ports can play a key role in the transition to a fossil free society, for example by functioning as natural hydrogen hubs for sector couplings and energy system integration (Cigolotti, 2021). For example, in Iceland, where marine applications such as shipping, and fishing are responsible for around one third of fossil fuel use, the focus unavoidably is on the development of hydrogen valleys in port areas (Government of Iceland, 2021). Also in Sweden, many of the hydrogen initiatives for cluster/valleys are linked to or include port areas (Fossilfritt Sverige, 2021; NER, 2022).
There are however several challenges related to the implementation of hydrogen in energy hubs such as ports that need to be better understood (Hoang et al., 2022; Rise/LTU, 2022). In general, barriers and business-related opportunities and challenges need to be identified. In terms of production there is e.g., a need for practical experiences of small- and large-scale hydrogen production in port areas, but also energy system assessments for how and where the production can take place e.g., considering sector couplings and use of waste products. There is also uncertainty linked to what extent different hydrogen-based fuels will be demanded (Brynolf et al., 2022; Hansson et al., 2022) and how they can be handled (including e.g., bunkering guidelines and storage possibilities). The development in the Nordics will also depend on policies and international developments.
The proposed project will carry out three national case studies spanning from Iceland (including the Isafjordur area/port in the Westfjords, the Husavik/Bakki area/ports in northeast Iceland in addition to Grundartangi in Southwest Iceland) to port of Gothenburg being the largest port in Scandinavia with links to most Nordic countries, to Luleå in the North of Sweden close to northern Finland. All locations have the potential to be part of the green corridor concept introduced in the Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors, even though the conditions for the ports differ (Hydle Rivedal et al., 2022). Several important challenges that Nordic ports need to handle will be found in the chosen case studies. They are a part of a complex energy system in different industrial settings, such as industrial production, refineries, district heating and various demands which require considerations and coordination. The ports and surrounding actors have been active in defining the research topics to be explored to ensure that they will be highly relevant and useful from a port perspective.
In terms of distribution and storage there is a need to better understand how existing infrastructures linked to ports can be used (Okunlola et al., 2022; Rise/LTU, 2022). Zivar et al. (2021) also underlines the need to investigate opportunities of using existing rock caverns for future hydrogen and ammonia storage. As there are no known suitable natural geological formations (e.g., salt caverns, aquifer formations and depleted oil and gas fields inland) for hydrogen storage in Nordic countries, storing in excavated rock caverns represent an interesting solution. Underground hydrogen storage can also be used to buffer the discrepancy between gas production and demand (Andersson and Grönkvist, 2019; IEA, 2022b). However, it is unclear if and how the current storage technology with lined rock cavern LRC (tested in pilot and demo plants for natural gas storage and in pilot scale linked to the HYBRIT project, Johansson, 2003; Glamheden and Curtis, 2006; HYBRIT 2021) can be transferred directly considering various geometry for existing caverns, geological and stress conditions, rock mass properties, storage capacity, storage pressure, etc. This will be addressed in the proposed project.
There are some relevant ongoing projects. The project INTERPORT, led by SINTEF, investigates integrated, decarbonised, and costefficient energy systems in Norwegian ports. The proposed H2AMN complements INTERPORT, by analysing ports with different characteristics, for example with regards to geography, industrial settings, and scale. There is also the network Global Ports Hydrogen coalition (GPHC) in which Port of Gothenburg participates.
Project objectives The overall aim is to analyse the potential for fossil-free hydrogen-based fuel pathways (focusing on hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol) in the Nordic region based on case studies centred around ports, in various Nordic locations. This includes providing scientifically based decision support to facilitate, and contribute to, the implementation of these pathways in and around Nordic ports (impact). The case studies include Iceland (exemplified by the Westfjords area with Port of Isafjordur, the Bakki/Husavik area in addition to Grundartangi in West of Iceland), Port of Gothenburg and Luleå (focusing on links to the local energy company Luleå Energi AB).
The main objectives are to:
1) Assess and compare the prerequisites for large scale implementation of hydrogen-based fuel pathways in the case studies (covering ports but also the regional hydrogen value chain) in terms of potential for production, storage, distribution, and use, covering business opportunities and challenges.
2) Assess drivers and barriers for demonstrating hydrogen-based pathways in the case studies (including e.g., technical, socio-economic, public acceptance, safety related barriers in addition to costs and benefits at different scales) and relevant policy options for enabling the transition.
3) Assess the role of sector coupling for the case studies e.g., to what extent the link to local and regional electricity production, district heating, industrial processes and hydrogen demand from different sectors, such as shipping and fishing, can support the hydrogen hubs.
4) Increase knowledge on underground hydrogen storage possibilities by assessing the feasibility of using existing rock caverns for hydrogen and ammonia storage, and by developing guidelines for using the lined rock cavern concept for existing rock caverns.
5) Synthesize and share findings on hydrogen-based fuels to enable efficient large-scale implementation also in other potential Nordic hydrogen-based hubs.
6) Outline ambitious pathways and strategies/guidelines for the implementation of hydrogen-based value chains in key energy hubs in the Nordics by 2030/2040.
More about the case studies
ICELAND
Iceland aims to be climate neutral and independent from fossil fuels by 2040. The country currently only relies on fossil fuels in transport (road, shipping and aviation) and the fishing industry and thus a transition to low carbon fuels in marine industries and transport will significantly contribute to that goal. According to the current roadmap for the future of hydrogen and e-fuels, these fuels are expected to play a key role in decarbonizing maritime applications. As maritime applications are distributed around the country, it is important to understand the drivers, barriers and the economics of producing/distributing/storing hydrogen, ammonia or methanol in ports in different locations around the country. Current policies will be mapped, and additional enabling policies revealed that are necessary to support a sustainable business case for decarbonizing maritime applications.

Egill Tómasson (Landsvirkjun) and Brynhildur Davidsdottir (University of Iceland)
Iceland has ambitious plans to become one of the first nations to be both locally independent of
fossil fuels and climate neutral. It is clear that light duty road transport will transition to BEV´s
but HDV´s, shipping and aviation will most likely transition to hydrogen or other hydrogen based energy carriers. Realizing the economic opportunities, drivers and barriers for the deployment of such alternative fuels in marine applications will contribute to the successful transitioning away from the use of fossil fuels in Iceland
GOTHENBURG
The port of Gothenburg, which together with Statkraft, are planning to produce hydrogen in the port area at small scale in the near term, are also interested to prepare for large scale implementation of hydrogen-based pathways. Potential hydrogen users being shipping, other transport modes (e.g., trucks calling at the ports) and nearby industries, creating synergy effects. However, there is a large need to understand more about the potential role of hydrogen and other hydrogen-based energy carriers linked to port of Gothenburg. The prerequisites for Port of Gothenburg to become a large-scale hub for hydrogen-based fuels will be assessed. This includes e.g., to assess business opportunities, drivers/barriers for realization, local versus regional production of fuels, future hydrogen related port infrastructure needs and capabilities of using existing infrastructure.

Julia Hansson (IVL)
The transition to renewable fuels for shipping is important. A significant proportion of the bunkering of shipping fuels that takes place around Sweden takes place near the port of Gothenburg, which makes it an interesting hydrogen-based fuels case to explore from a shipping perspective, says Julia Hansson at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. As Gothenburg is the largest port in Scandinavia, we believe that the findings from this case study will also be relevant for other Nordic ports that are interested in the opportunities for hydrogen-based energy carriers.

Port of Gothenburg.
LULEÅ
The industrial park connected to the port of Luleå is expanding and there are plans to establish
several new industries, processing new feedstocks and products. These establishments will further drive the amount of goods being imported and exported in the port and set new requirements for port operations. Most of the industries will be energy intensive and plan to produce and/or use hydrogen to some extent. With several industries utilizing hydrogen in the port area, hydrogen and hydrogen based fuels, such as ammonia and methanol, are seen as potential fuels for future port operations. In the case of Luleå port the project sets out to assess new hydrogen-related business opportunities for the local energy company and future pathways for hydrogen based fuel pathways. The figure below illustrates the interconnections between the port, city, and industries in the port area.

The interconnections between the port, city, and industries in the port area in Luleå as a first result of the project.
LINED ROCK CAVERNS (LRC)
Prof Ping Zhang, LTU and Prof Charlie Li, NTNU, within rock mechanics will assess the feasibility of using existing rock caverns for hydrogen and ammonia storage and develop guidelines for using the LRC for existing rock caverns to improve the potential for underground hydrogen storage close to Nordic ports. Data from the literature, relevant oil storage caverns in Gothenburg Port were collected under certain constraints due to the sensitive and worsened security situation in Sweden. Rock samples from sites close to Gothenburg Port were collected. The samples with and without joint plane will be tested by a modified tri-axial loading apparatus and the mechanical properties of rock and joints will be obtained for further numerical analysis. Conceptual numerical models including steel liner, sliding layer, concrete liner and rock mass were constructed and geometry optimization of existing caverns for underground hydrogen storage at certain internal pressure is being investigated.
Public events where H2AMN will be presented
- 11-12 Dec The Swedish Hydrogen Conference, Stockholm (CH2ESS coordinates the
2024 Hydrogen Conference | Luleå tekniska universitet (ltu.se)External link.
- 22-23 Jan The Nordic Hydrogen Valley conference at LTU, Luleå (Nordic Hydrogen
External link.
Valleys Conference 2025 – Nordic Energy ResearcExternal link.h)
Project partners:
Luleå University of Technology, University of Iceland, IVL Swedish Environmental Institute,
Port of Gothenburg, Blámi, Statkraft, Landsvirkjun, Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, Luleå Energi, Port of Piteå and SSAB.
With external funding from Nordic Energy Research within the Nordic Hydrogen Valleys as Energy Hubs program via the Swedish Energy Agency and the Icelandic research centre RANNIS.


References
Andersson, J., Grönkvist, S., 2019. Large-scale storage of hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 44: 11901-11919.
Brynolf, S., Hansson, J., Anderson, J.E., et al., 2022. Review of electrofuel feasibility - Prospects for road, ocean, and air transport. Progress in Energy, 4, 042007.
Business Finland (2020). National Hydrogen Roadmap for Finland.
Cigolotti, V., 2021. The role of hydrogen in European port ecosystems. Enea, DOI 10.12910/EAI2021-027.
Danish government, 2021. Roadmap for a green Denmark.
DNV, 2022. Hydrogen forecast to 2050 - Energy Transition Outlook 2022.
European Commission (EC), 2020. A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe. Brussels.
Fossilfritt Sverige, 2021. Vätgasstrategi för fossilfri konkurrenskraft.
Glamheden, R., Curtis, P., 2006. Excavation of a cavern for high-pressure storage of natural gas. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 21: 56-67.
Government of Iceland, Ministry of Industry and Innovation, 2021, A Hydrogen and E-fuels Roadmap for Iceland, Government of Iceland, Ministry of Industry and Innovation.
Hansson, J., Brynolf, S., et al., 2020. The Potential Role of Ammonia as Marine Fuel – Based on Energy Systems Modelling and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Sustainability 12(8), 3265.
Hoang A.T., Foley, A., et al., 2022. Energy-related approach for reduction of CO2 emissions: A critical strategy on the port-to-ship pathway. Journal of Cleaner Production, 35525, 131772.
Hydle Rivedal, N., Slotvik, D., Mjelde, A., 2022. AIS Analysis of Nordic Ship Traffic. Nordic Roadmap Publication No. 2-A/1/2022.
IEA, 2022. World Energy Outlook 2022.
IEA. 2022b. Global hydrogen review 2022.
Johansson, J., 2003. High pressure storage of gas in lined rock caverns: cavern wall design principles. Licentiate thesis, KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
Lehtveer, M.; Brynolf, S.; Grahn, M., 2019. What Future for Electrofuels in Transport? Analysis of Cost Competitiveness in Global Climate Mitigation. Environ. Sci. Technol., 53, 1690–1697.
Nordic Energy Research (NER), 2022. Hydrogen, electrofuels, CCU and CCS in a Nordic context.
Norweigan Government, Olje- og energidepartementet & Klima- og miljødepartementet, 2020. Regjeringens hydrogenstrategi.
Okunlola, A., et al., 2022. Techno-economic assessment of low-carbon hydrogen export from Western Canada to Eastern Canada, USA, Asia-Pacific, Europe. Internat. Journal of Hydrogen Energy 47 (10).
Rise/LTU, 2022. Prestudy H2ESIN: Hydrogen, energy system and infrastructure in Northern Scandinavia and Finland.
Swedish Energy Agency, 2021. Förslag till Sveriges nationella strategi för vätgas, elektrobränslen och ammoniak. ER 2021:34.
Wråke, M., Karlsson, K., Kofoed-Wiuff, A. et al., 2021. Nordic Clean Energy Scenarios - Solutions for Carbon Neutrality.
Zivar D, Kumar S and Foroozesh J. 2021. Underground hydrogen storage: A comprehensive review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46: 23436-23462.
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