Fueling the future of shipping
10 000
vessels pass by Slagen every year
planned operational with green fuels
2027
120 000
mtpa combined green fuel capacity at Slagen: 20 000 mtpa H2 and 100 000 mtpa NH3
Shipping constitutes 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis. To reduce emissions, we must decarbonize maritime transport and support the energy transition. By utilizing renewable power, making green fuels such as green hydrogen and green ammonia, we can limit carbon emissions, making global energy systems more sustainable.
The IMO has set a target of carbon-neutral shipping in 2050, and the EU will include shipping in the Emission Trading System from 2024. This will have significant cost implications for the shipping industry as ships then have to purchase allowances for their carbon emissions.
The decarbonization of shipping is likely to be the next paradigm shift in the maritime industry, and industry stakeholders are focused on achieving this goal to meet future demands.
The Slagen Energy Hub is planning to support this journey and is aiming to provide both green hydrogen and green ammonia to maritime and industrial customers from 2027 – based on its strategic location at the inlet of the Oslo fjord.
Phase 1 scope
10 tonnes
Daily green hydrogen production in 2026/2027
50 000 tonnes
annual ammonia throughout in 2026/2027
Future phases scope
50 tonnes
Daily green hydrogen production in 2028-2030
200 000 tonnes
annual ammonia throughput in 2028-2030
The project is currently in the feasibility phase and is planning for final investment decision in 2024. The project aims to produce 10 tonnes daily of green hydrogen and to distribute up to 100 000 tonnes of green ammonia per year in 2026/27. In the following phases, the project will focus on scaling up the production volumes of green hydrogen and ammonia, with potential of up to 50 tonnes per day of green hydrogen and up to 200 000 tonnes of green ammonia. This phase will require large amounts of renewable power and a rapid ramp-up in the green hydrogen and ammonia demand.
The partners
Collaboration is key to success, and the Slagen Energy Hub is no exception to this. The team consists of 4 industry partners, each bringing skills and experience within their respective fields. The composition of the team is unique, with complementary knowledge and great synergies.
A strong team in a key location
Esso Norge has experience and expertise in developing complex, global projects to advance meaningful greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Their presence at Slagentangen location since 1961 has ensured that the location at the entrance of the Oslo Fjord is well-known and recognized by the maritime industry.
Grieg Edge has great experience from maritime transportation, and are actively engaged in developing new sustainable ventures. With their new green ammonia distribution vessel, MS. Green Ammonia, they aim to provide the maritime industry with sustainable fuels.
GreenH is a Norwegian pioneer in developing green infrastructure for hydrogen. At Slagen Energy Hub, they aim to leverage their expertise within green hydrogen and study the potential of producing green hydrogen at Slagen.
North Ammonia is an ambitious green ammonia supplier with strong industrial owners. At Slagen Energy Hub, they aim to leverage their green ammonia and maritime expertise, and study the opportunities for a green ammonia distribution terminal.
“Grieg Edge, GreenH and North Ammonia will provide their expertise in sustainable marine transportation, hydrogen production and hydrogen and ammonia project development.”
Øyvind Rudberg,
Conversion manager, in Esso Norge
“There is high value in producing green hydrogen close to where consumption is, because transporting hydrogen from where it’s produced to where it’s consumed is expensive”
Morten S. Watle,
CEO of GreenH
Artist impression of site
The project
On June 24th, 2022, Esso Norge, Grieg Edge, North Ammonia and GreenH signed a memorandum of understanding to study potential production and distribution of green hydrogen and green ammonia for lower emission marine fuels at Esso Norge’s Slagen terminal in Norway.
The partnership will explore the potential for production of up to 20 000 metric tonnes per year of green hydrogen and up to 100 000 metric tonnes per year of green ammonia distribution – making the Slagen terminal also a hub for lower-emission shipping fuels.
Esso Norge’s Slagen facility is located at the inlet of the Oslo Fjord, where more than 10,000 ships pass every year, making it a highly suitable location for a distribution hub.
In 2021, Esso Norge closed down its industrial petroleum refinery at Slagen, after 60 years of operation. The large storage facility is now used as a terminal that loads, unloads, and distributes fuels. Esso Norge is evaluating new opportunities for their strategically located industrial site. To reduce carbon emissions, they aim to explore new forms of energy, such as hydrogen and ammonia, where the emissions from combustion is solely water vapor.
The project consists of studying the potential for:
Green hydrogen production,
storage and transport
Green ammonia import,
storage and export
Long-term potential for green ammonia production
Jetty utilization and potential
new jetty requirement
About the companies
Esso has a long and proud history in Norway and has delivered high quality products and services for 130 years. In 2021 the refinery at Slagen was converted into a fuels terminal. The Slagen terminal continues to provide liquid fuels to its customers and has the ambition to also provide tomorrows fuels to current and new customers. Esso Norge AS is an affiliate of ExxonMobil Corporation in the USA.
ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international oil and gas companies, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. ExxonMobil is committed to meeting society’s needs for products essential to modern life, providing reliable energy and investing in a lower-emission energy system for tomorrow. ExxonMobil manages an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants and chemical companies in the world. The corporation’s primary businesses - Upstream, Product Solutions and Low Carbon Solutions - provide products that enable modern life, including energy, chemicals, lubricants, and low-emissions technologies.
To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and the Energy Factor Europe
Green H is a Norwegian company that develops infrastructure for the production and distribution of green hydrogen. The company is engaged in projects aimed at building, owning and operating hydrogen production facilities for the maritime sector, transport and industry along the Norwegian coast.
To learn more, visit greenh.no
Grieg Edge is a dedicated innovation company in the group, focusing on sustainable solutions for the maritime industry. Grieg Edge identifies, invests in, and develops new business opportunities within shipping and related maritime segments - always with sustainability as a prerequisite. The company has taken an active role in developing shipping's future green fuels.
North Ammonia develops and invests in green hydrogen and ammonia production and availability projects to reduce climate emissions from maritime transport and other industries. The company aims to become a leading Norwegian supplier of green ammonia. The company is a joint venture between Grieg Maritime Group and Arendals Fossekompani.
To learn more, visit northammonia.com