© H2Site

Spain’s H2Site has established a Norwegian subsidiary in Bergen to deploy onboard ammonia-to-hydrogen systems for ships and offshore vessels, as the maritime sector faces tightening emissions requirements in Europe and beyond.

Shipping emissions rules drive interest in ammonia and onboard hydrogen production

The move comes amid growing regulatory pressure from the EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime, while global rules at the International Maritime Organization continue to evolve. Norway has positioned itself as a test bed for low- and zero-emissions shipping and is already assessing the use of ammonia onboard vessels in commercial operations.

Bergen base to support pilot projects with Norwegian shipowners and shipyards

Through H2Site Norway AS, the Bilbao-based company aims to work more closely with Norwegian shipowners, shipyards and offshore operators to adapt its systems to real vessel profiles and operating conditions. The focus is on accelerating pilot and demonstration projects rather than immediate large-scale deployment.

Palladium membrane reactors enable onboard cracking of ammonia into hydrogen

H2Site’s technology centres on palladium-alloy membranes integrated into reactor and separation systems that extract hydrogen from carrier molecules. In maritime applications, ammonia is cracked onboard to produce high-purity hydrogen that can be used in fuel cells or blended into internal combustion engines, avoiding the need for large-volume hydrogen storage while retaining ammonia’s advantages as a liquid fuel with established logistics.

The company says it has been building and operating ammonia crackers since 2023 and has accumulated more than 6,000 operating hours, including extended continuous runs in relevant environments. Manufacturing is concentrated at its facility in Loiu, near Bilbao, where thousands of palladium-alloy membranes are produced annually and integrated into systems ranging up to the megawatt scale.

Engine limitations and ammonia slip slow direct ammonia adoption at sea

Several marine engine manufacturers are developing ammonia-fuelled engines, but technical and safety challenges — including nitrogen oxide emissions, unburned ammonia slip at low loads and the need for pilot fuel — have slowed adoption. H2Site argues that onboard cracking allows hydrogen to be used directly, improving combustion performance and enabling fuel cells for auxiliary power or hybrid propulsion configurations.

The company positions onboard hydrogen production as a risk-management response to regulation, arguing that the commercial and compliance risks of delaying decarbonisation now outweigh those associated with deploying new technologies. This is particularly relevant for vessel segments such as RoRo ships, bulk carriers, tankers and offshore supply vessels, where zero-emissions options remain limited.

Demonstration projects to test commercial readiness in Norwegian waters

Tomás Crespo, maritime business development manager at H2Site Norway, said the company’s focus had shifted from validation to execution. “The technology is proven; the priority now is implementation of the product and operational learning,” he said. The coming year will centre on deploying systems in real operating environments and gathering data to inform wider commercial adoption.