Two billionaire investors are joining forces to offer green fuels for the liner industry.
Norwegian tycoon Kjell Inge Rokke’s Aker Clean Hydrogen is teaming up with German magnate Klaus-Michael Kuhne’s huge logistics operation Kuehne+Nagel.
The companies want to decarbonise the maritime logistics sector by offering green container transport.
The two companies “envision the expansion of Kuehne+Nagel’s offer of green fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol”.
The first vessels with engines that can run on these fuel alternatives are in production and expected to hit the water in 2024.
In the early days of such first-generation fossil-free engines, the sourcing fuels will present a challenge, the companies added.
“Through this partnership, both companies want to help scale fossil-free shipping early on. While Aker Clean Hydrogen will secure access to green fuels, Kuehne+Nagel handles the booking of contracts for environmentally friendly containers in cooperation with their carrier partners,” a statement said.
The two sides are already in advanced discussions with container ship owners who share their ambition and who want to convert to hydrogen, ammonia and methanol engines.
Arne Faaberg, managing director of Kuehne+Nagel in Norway, said: “This partnership with Aker Clean Hydrogen contributes to our commitment to a low-carbon business model. Together with them and our carrier partners we will be able to provide certified green container shipment”.
Knut Nyborg, chief executive of Aker Clean Hydrogen, explained that his company is planning to build hydrogen, ammonia and methanol plants around the world.
Group expertise
“We are well placed in the transition towards a more sustainable future for global shipping,” he added.
Aker Horizons is the majority shareholder of the company, and draws on expertise from across the Aker group.
This includes systems integration, engineering, technology development, project implementation, digitalisation and financial optimisation.
The company aims to reach a net installed capacity of 5 gigawatts by 2030.
Kuehne+Nagel has more than 76,000 employees in 1,400 locations.
