The highway is part of the HyNor project, a national initiative to integrate hydrogen technology into the transport industry. The goal is to have hydrogen-powered vehicles and hydrogen fuelling stations operating between Oslo and Stavanger by 2008.
“Since 2001, we have tripled funds allotted by the Ministry of Transport and Communication’s budget towards alternative fuels and environmentally friendly technology,” minister for transport and communication Torild Skogsholm said.
“Norway will be a trendsetter in using such technology, and it’s a great pleasure to have received so many exciting and solid applications. This includes the comprehensive HyNor project, which I have great hopes for.”
More than NOK16 million of HyNor funding will be used to establish a hydrogen filling station in the Grenland industrial area of Porsgrunn, which will take advantage of surplus hydrogen manufactured by industries in the area.
“We’re now finally beginning to see the contours of the hydrogen highway from Stavanger to Oslo and have come a significant step closer to realising Norway’s first hydrogen filling station,” said HyNor project leader Christopher Kloed.
“Some pieces still need to fall in place before shovels can hit the ground, but we have every reason to celebrate today.”
