HeidelbergCement receives Heyerdahl Award 2021

This year, HeidelbergCement won the award together with agricultural cooperative Felleskjøpet AGRI for their joint effort requisitioning the world's first zero-emission cargo ship and using their role as product owners to initiate the development of several different zero-emission solutions for larger ships with longer sailing distances. The award was presented by HRH Crown Prince Haakon from Norway.

"We are honoured to be awarded the Heyerdahl Prize. We want to be a pioneer in the industry and help make the green shift a reality as quickly as possible. As one of the world's largest producers of building materials we have the power to make a difference, and the new bulk carrier has potential to become a catalyst for change in the global logistics market,” said Giv Brantenberg, General Manager of HeidelbergCement Northern Europe.

Together with Felleskjøpet Agri HeidelbergCement plans to establish an environmentally sustainable transport system. The set-up will combine the cargoes of the two companies and will cover the geographical area from the west coast of Norway to the inner Oslofjord in the east. The cargo flows will mainly be gravel in an easterly direction and grain in a westerly direction in a coordinated operation. The cargo base will give close to full employment of one ship in weekly roundtrips and the ship will have zero emission of greenhouse gases during its operation.

World's first zero-emissions bulk carrier

For the world's first zero-emissions bulk carrier Norwegian coastal shipping company Egil Ulvan Rederi has been selected. Felleskjøpet Agri and HeidelbergCement have entered into an agreement with the shipping company to build an 88-meter-long, green ship.

The main engine of the new ship will be hydrogen powered. The ship will also be equipped with two rotor sails, which under favourable wind conditions enables the ship to sail at 8 knots speed only with power generated from the two wind rotors. The ship is also equipped with a lower keel and a large rudder that makes it easier to sail with minimal drift, which also contributes to reduced energy needs. During port stays the ship will use shore power.