Packed Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg
Norwegian and German companies and decision-makers in the energy and green shipping sectors met in Hamburg to explore opportunities for collaboration. Norway and Germany already work closely on energy, but there is still significant potential in hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture and storage, and other low-carbon solutions to accelerate the green transition.
High-level meeting and conference
Ahead of the conference, Crown Prince Haakon, Minister of Trade and Industry Vestre and Minister of Petroleum and Energy Aasland met ministers from Germany's five northernmost federal states to develop concrete plans for cooperation. Senior executives from major Norwegian energy companies, including Yara, Aker, Statkraft and DNV, also attended.
Norway and Germany have a long history of cooperation in energy, industry and shipping, and now have ambitious plans to work together on the energy transition. Germany needs to cut industrial emissions, while Norway needs to replace its oil and gas exports with low-carbon solutions. The two countries are therefore working together to explore opportunities for value chains in hydrogen and other low-carbon solutions.
'Germany is our most important partner in Europe and a key, growing market for Norwegian energy companies. Norwegian companies have the expertise and technology to support Germany's energy transition, helping German industry cut emissions by moving from coal to low-carbon solutions. At the same time, this can increase Norway's green exports, creating value and jobs across the country,' says our CEO, Håkon Haugli.
Hydrogen and green shipping
Norway aims to play an active role in developing a commercial hydrogen market in Germany and the EU. Norway and Germany also aim to establish large-scale hydrogen supplies from Norway to Germany by 2030. This creates significant opportunities for Norwegian companies across the value chain.
'In the debate on blue and green hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage, I would say that we need all our technologies to achieve our climate targets,' said Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre on stage in Hamburg during a panel discussion with Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland and Hamburg's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Almut Möller.
Greener shipping is essential to achieving the climate targets, and this was a key topic at the conference in Hamburg.
The maritime industry is important to both Norway and Germany, and many of the world's most modern ships are built at Norwegian and German shipyards or equipped with Norwegian and German equipment and technology. At the same time, shipping accounts for significant greenhouse gas emissions, making the industry's green transition a high priority in both countries. The conference in Hamburg demonstrated a clear commitment to Norway and Germany taking the lead in developing a greener maritime industry in Europe and worldwide.