Technical Deep Dive: HAV Hydrogen
Technical Deep Dive is a column where we go deeper into the latest technical innovations being carried out by our cluster members.
In the following publication, it's HAV Hydrogen’s turn.
Company Overview: HAV Hydrogen is situated in Fosnavåg, on the West Coast of Norway. They are part of HAV Group which has its HQ in Fosnavåg, but they also have offices in Bergen, Ålesund, Egersund, Istanbul and Sopot.
As an R&D company with decades of system integration experience, they aim to showcase safe and efficient use of hydrogen for zero-emission maritime solutions.
Product/services: Their core product is ZEPOD® – a complete, validated solution that combines proven technologies with expert design to deliver zero-emission energy to the maritime market. They simplify the integration of advanced hydrogen technology on board vessels, providing shipowners, yards, and ship designers with a seamless pathway to adopt these innovative systems.
By managing barrier implementation in compliance with international regulations, they ensure a streamlined approval process for vessels, reducing complexity and enabling a more efficient transition to zero-emission operations.
Technology Deep Dive
What is the problem that needs solving?
The maritime industry faces pivotal changes and challenges in the coming years, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to comply with stringent international rules and regulations. Shipping accounts for approximately 3% of global emissions, necessitating immediate action to mitigate its environmental impact.
There are many ambitious targets, including a 30% reduction by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Researching, developing, and adopting new green, zero-emission technologies is challenging in itself, but these efforts are heavily influenced by, and dependent on, the political climate, international rules and regulations, and public funding schemes.
How is the problem solved conventionally, if at all?
Conventional solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry primarily focus on improving energy efficiency, optimizing vessel operations, and transitioning to alternative fuels with lower carbon intensity, such as LNG, methanol, or biofuels. While these approaches have achieved incremental reductions in emissions, they often fall short of meeting long-term net-zero targets.
Additionally, technologies such as wind-assisted propulsion and shore power systems are gaining traction, but their implementation remains limited. Conventional methods rarely address the root cause—complete decarbonization—and thus require supplementation by groundbreaking zero-emission technologies to achieve global regulatory goals.
How is your technology different from the solutions today?
Our ZEPOD® system redefines maritime decarbonization by offering a prefabricated, pre-approved, and fully integrated zero-emission solution. Through a holistic approach, we ensure complete control over all safety barriers and compliance with maritime approval frameworks, including guidelines like Alternative Design Process/MSC.1/Circ.1455.
By designing ZEPOD® as a comprehensive and ready-to-use engine room solution, shipyards and shipowners can approach its integration and approval as they would with a traditional system. This simplifies the understanding of complex hydrogen-based technologies and streamlines the approval process, as well as reducing project risk when it comes to cost and timeline.
What impact will this technology have on the value chain and market?
Our ZEPOD® technology transforms the maritime value chain by enabling zero-emission operations, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing regulatory compliance. It simplifies shipyard integration, lowers approval complexity, and accelerates project timelines, creating cost efficiencies. For shipowners, it ensures future-proof investments aligned with IMO and EU mandates. ZEPOD® will increase competitivness and position our clients for a sustainable and profitable future.
When can we expect it to hit market?
ZEPOD® is already available on the market, with the first systems set to be operational aboard vessels by early 2026.
What hurdles have you overcome so far, and can you see coming?
We have overcome several significant hurdles in developing ZEPOD®, starting with the technical challenge of creating a fully integrated, zero-emission system capable of meeting stringent maritime safety and regulatory standards.
We've also navigated the complexities of hydrogen fuel handling, ensuring safety and reliability in real-world conditions through rigorous testing.
Looking ahead, we anticipate challenges related to large-scale adoption, such as securing widespread regulatory acceptance and scaling production to meet market demand. The integration of advanced hydrogen systems into existing ship designs also requires careful planning and collaboration with shipyards
For more information or questions, please contact:
Kristian Osnes, Managing Director of HAV Hydrogen (kristian.osnes@havhydrogen.no)
Stefan Giske, SVP Sales of HAV Hydrogen (stefan.giske@havhydrogen.no)
