The objective of HyNor and SHHP is to establish a joint national and multinational initiative to implement hydrogen solutions for transport. On a national level hydrogen initiatives compete on available support schemes for hydrogen and often do not succeed in establishing an enduring infrastructure that paves the way for hydrogen in transportation.

By uniting all existing initiatives and change from a local to a multinational goal, an initiative was taken to unite all local hydrogen initiatives into a common multinational highway approach. With initiatives in Oslo, Stavanger and other cities, the common HyNor goal arose: establishing a hydrogen highway from Stavanger to Oslo by early 2009. A project structure supporting local initiatives was founded.

So far seven nodes are established in HyNor with two stations up and running, and another four stations will be opened in 2009. The HyNor-project is unique and world leading in the number of nodes, cars and the diverse organisations involved. Currently 15 cars are assigned, and an agreement with Mazda will bring another 40 hydrogen vehicles to the project. The success of HyNor was used for the foundation of SHHP – the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership – now opening a station in Denmark and establishing a committed network of nodes working for new local hydrogen fuelling stations.

We therefore see HyNor and SHHP as a successful model for a future hydrogen infrastructure that can be used when establishing national and multinational hydrogen infrastructure, going beyond local interests, uniting them and strengthening the overall hydrogen strategy.