(Oslo / Norway) – The Government of Norway has published a white paper on the long-term value creation of Norway's energy resources. Under the title “Putting Energy to Work – Long-Term Value Creation from Norwegian Energy Resources”, the report to Parliament is intended to show how renewable energies and storage can advance the phase-out of fossil energy supplies.
“After the pandemic, we want to stimulate the economy. To do this, we need more profitable jobs. We must exploit the enormous opportunities that our energy resources offer,” said Prime Minister Erna Solberg. We must “prepare for the fact that the oil industry will no longer be the same driving force in our economy as it was before.”
The white paper outlines four goals for long-term economic growth: Norway's renewable energy resources should be used as much as possible within the country itself and further expansion of the electricity grid is necessary for stable access to renewable energies. In addition, renewables should provide a competitive advantage for new industries, such as hydrogen production and use, offshore wind, carbon capture and storage, and battery production. In addition, the government is committed to further developing its oil and gas sector in order to ensure “predictable framework conditions” for “good utilization of resources with lower greenhouse gas emissions”.
Prospects for hydrogen
Part of the white paper is a “roadmap for hydrogen”. This serves as a supplement to the country's hydrogen strategy presented in June 2020.
Hubs would be set up in the maritime transport sector and hydrogen research would be promoted. In the short term, the government will seek to work with the private sector to enable the establishment of five hydrogen hubs in the maritime transport sector by 2025. Hydrogen should be established in the maritime sector by 2030. Norway's goal is to be "a low-emission society" by 2050. Hydrogen is an important energy source, especially in transport, says the Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru. To achieve this, “both the market and the technology must develop”.
Funding for the development of hydrogen infrastructure and markets will be increased and a Green Energy Research Center (FME) will be established with a focus on hydrogen and ammonia. There are already significant funding programs that support the development of hydrogen. The coordination of funding agencies is a key element. The Norwegian Research Council and the state-owned Enova SF have therefore launched a partnership called “HEILO” (“Hydrogen as an energy source for low emissions and the transition”).
deep link
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/regjeringen-legger-frem-stortingsmelding-om-verdiskaping-fra-norske-energiressurser/id2860271/
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/vegkart-for-hydrogen-knutepunkt-og-forsking/id2860353/
Norway's hydrogen strategy
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dokumenter/the-norwegian-governments-hydrogen-strategy/id2704860/
Photos
Hydrogen should be established in Norway's maritime sector by 2030. / © Olje- og energidepartementet (Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Norway)
