Floating hydrogen terminals edge closer to reality with ammonia cracking tech validation

July 2, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Höegh Evi, a Norwegian owner and operator of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), and Nord Gas Solutions, formerly Wartsila Gas Solutions, have wrapped up the performance testing of their ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking technology for floating hydrogen terminals in Norway.

Höegh Evi and Nord Gas Solutions have validated ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking technology for floating hydrogen terminals; Courtesy of Höegh Evi

Höegh Evi and Nord Gas Solutions have completed performance testing for their ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking technology at the Sustainable Energy pilot plant in Stord, Norway. The development has been financially supported by the Norwegian Green Platform program.

The project’s consortium encompasses Höegh Evi; Nord Gas Solutions; BASF contributing to catalyst supply; the University of South-East Norway; Sustainable Energy; and the Norwegian Institute for Energy Technology (IFE).

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Nils Jakob Hasle, EVP Clean Energy at Höegh Evi, commented: “Höegh Evi is very pleased with the testing results of our ammonia-to-hydrogen cracker, which has demonstrated high performance, stability and efficient conversion from ammonia to hydrogen.

“This milestone further confirms the case for floating terminals as a fast and competitive path to implementing hydrogen at scale. We look forward to validating these results further in long-term testing.”

The pilot cracker is said to have demonstrated high performance across a range of critical parameters, including conversion rate, efficiency, hydrogen yield, and operational flexibility.

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The unit, operating through a single, stable process, converts ammonia into hydrogen at a purity level exceeding 99.5%. With a modular design optimised for adaptability and scalability, the cracker can be deployed in both floating terminals and land-based applications.

Taro Mukae, VP Technology at Nord Gas Solutions, underlined: “This successful testing phase marks an important milestone in validating ammonia cracking as a reliable and scalable pathway to hydrogen. The results confirm both the efficiency and operational robustness of our technology, supporting its readiness for deployment in industrial-scale applications.”

Höegh Evi is currently developing cost-competitive floating terminals with the capacity to deliver hydrogen at an industrial scale of up to 200,000 tonnes per year.

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As global hydrogen production capacity grows, European ports are said to be emerging as a vital gateway where import terminals can receive ammonia and convert it to hydrogen, providing clean, competitive, and reliable energy.

The Norwegian firm and its partners are progressing the development of several maritime terminals across Europe, where this highly effective ammonia cracking technology is planned for deployment on a floating terminal or onshore.