Hydrogen-powered shipping
The HyShip project is a European initiative bringing together 14 partners to develop and demonstrate the first roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel powered by liquid green hydrogen (LH₂), alongside the vessel's supporting supply chain and bunkering infrastructure.
Funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, HyShip aims to enable the transition to zero-emission maritime transport by validating both the vessel and the broader hydrogen ecosystem. Operating under the concept name “Topeka,” the demonstration vessel will combine cargo transport with the distribution of LH₂ to bunkering hubs along Norway’s west coast. The project also includes replicator studies across multiple vessel types to assess the scalability of hydrogen solutions in shortsea, coastal, and deep-sea shipping.
Within HyShip, sus.lab leads the analysis of business models and policy frameworks required to make hydrogen-powered shipping economically viable. This includes developing business cases across the entire value chain — from hydrogen production to vessel operation — based on real-world data from the demonstrator and comparable use cases. The goal is to identify cost drivers, assess techno-economic performance over the full lifecycle of vessels, and define pathways toward a positive business case.
Building on this, sus.lab also develops policy recommendations and incentive structures to support large-scale adoption. By analysing regulatory barriers and collaborating with industry stakeholders, the project identifies effective measures to reduce risks, close funding gaps, and accelerate the transition to a hydrogen-based maritime sector.
Key insights from the project will contribute to shaping future policy discussions and industry strategies for zero-emission shipping in Europe.
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