TECO 2030 unlocks state funding to boost PEM fuel cell production

Innovation Norway, the state-owned company that funds development and innovation initiatives, provided the grant as part of the “environmental technology” category. The money is intended to boost the deployment of TECO 2030’s polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology in applications for the shipping and heavy-duty industry.

The funding was granted in October 2021 around the time TECO’s 400-kW FCM400 fuel-cell module received an approval in principle from DNV. TECO 2030 had a prerequisite to release the funds, and this prerequisite has now been achieved.

The company operates a test centre in Narvik and plans to scale production of its fuel-call module, with Thyssenkrupp supplying the fuel-cell production line.

Innovation Norway regional director Monica Ahyee commented, “The company is working on one of the world’s largest and most ambitious ventures on hydrogen fuel cells. This is an important investment both for national strategy and regional development. The technology can help to reduce emissions from the maritime sector and at the same time provide more jobs that require higher education in this region. Innovation Norway’s role is to reduce risk in the development phase and the company has already achieved several important financial and technological milestones.” 

TECO 2030 chief executive Tore Enger added, “We are moving ahead with full speed to deliver heavy-duty and marine PEM fuel cells to various energy-intensive industries. The grant from Innovation Norway will allow us to accelerate the development and deployment of our fuel cells and the industrialisation of the production facility in Narvik.”

The company is also part of the EU-backed HyEkoTank project. Consortium partners will attempt to retrofit a 18,600-dwt product tanker with a 2.4-MW TECO developed fuel-cell system developed by TECO 2030 and 4,000-kg compressed hydrogen storage for demonstration in 2024.