Backlogs and power shortages “should not destroy the climate goals”. That is the message from the government, which on Monday signed an agreement on “climate partnership” with business. The aim is to contribute to a green transition in the process industry and to establish a “common understanding of what is needed to achieve the climate goals”. – Closer interaction is decisive for success with the green industry promise, says Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap). The same afternoon, in another town in the country, the community center in Høyanger is packed with people. So many people want to enter that the organizer has to use an extra room to accommodate everyone. Frode Hoff was among those who spoke during the public meeting in Høyanger on Monday afternoon. NVE expects an increase in power consumption in Norway of 36 TWh up to 2040. Photo: ARNE STUBHAUG / news The organizer is the wind power trio Hydro, Eviny and Zephyr, and the invited are the residents of the municipality. A temperature measurement in the foyer shows that those present are angry, expectant, restless and hopeful. And everything in between. Why? Because Hydro tempts with billion-dollar investments and hopes for the future in exchange for a wind farm. The message from the cornerstone company is clear: the wind farm is necessary to ensure enough power for the aluminum plant after 2030. – The aim is to decarbonise all aluminum plants. Access to renewable power is a prerequisite for that, says Ola Sæter in Hydro Aluminium. Before Christmas, the company announced that it will supply Mercedes-Benz with low-carbon aluminum to reduce the carbon footprint of the German car manufacturer. Norway needs up to 50 per cent more power Two new reports say that Norway needs up to 50 per cent more power for the green shift by 2030. A similar signal came this autumn from Statnett, which reports a power deficit from 2027. In addition, this comes: The Norwegian Environment Agency announced before Christmas that the country will need 60 TWh more power to electrify the transport sector by 2050. Today, 33 per cent of domestic emissions in Norway come from the transport sector. The Norwegian Environment Agency has previously reported that the land-based industry will need a further 14 TWh of extra power to meet the emissions requirement in the Paris Agreement. The controversial measure to electrify the shelf is calculated to require around 15 TWh a year. According to a new report that Thema Consulting has prepared for NHO, the annual power demand in Norway may increase by 57 TWh to 196 TWh in 2030. Høyanger mayor Petter Sortland (Ap), who was previously a prominent opponent of wind power, has characterized the dilemma as “a hellish split”. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / Hallgeir Vagenes (VG) The government is not on track with climate cuts – We have very ambitious climate targets. To achieve these, we must have the business community on board, says climate and environment minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap). The government is currently behind its own plan to cut emissions by 55 per cent by 2030. The target also includes sectors subject to quotas (oil and gas, industry and aviation within the EEA). news has previously written that the government also controls against excessive emissions in non-quota-obligatory sectors (transport, agriculture, construction and small industrial enterprises). Høgangerfjell wind power plant is planned in the mountain area between Høyanger and Viksdalen. The project has a potential scope of between 50-80 turbines. Photo: Steinar Lote – I’m in a hellish dilemma, says Høyanger mayor Petter Sortland (Ap), who has previously distinguished himself as an active wind power opponent. Now he is not so sure anymore. If the pressure wasn’t big enough already, Høgre manager Erna Solberg has also raised the flag. Earlier in January, she presented twelve concrete proposals to increase power production up to 2030. Including the wind power park in Høyanger. – The pace has to pick up, and quickly, he explained. On Tuesday, it was Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland’s (Ap) turn to come to Høyanger. He came directly from LO’s oil and gas conference in Bergen, where he spoke about “Norway as an important European energy supplier”. Earlier this year, he sent out a proposal to amend the Energy Act. The aim is to facilitate more development of wind power – “to strengthen the power balance and achieve the national climate targets”. – Now we transfer power to the municipalities. This will provide more predictable frameworks and help reduce the level of conflict in wind power cases, he says. Hydro and Eviny tempt the Høyanger people with billion-dollar investments and future hopes in exchange for a wind farm. Photo: Arne Stubhaug / news – Must drop the Molbu initiative which is the electrification of the shelf “Sludder”, counters Einar Rysjedal, who is the municipal council representative for Raudt and deputy manager of Motvind Sunnfjord. On Tuesday, he met the energy minister with a banner and yellow vest outside the town hall in Høyanger. – It’s about showing what we mean. We defend nature and our mountains every single time the opportunity arises, he says to news. – The government says that more power is a prerequisite for reaching the climate goals. What part of that reasoning did you disagree with? – That with more power. Instead of producing more power, we should see where we can save. There are good single-use measures, and in addition we can drop the molbu measure which is the electrification of the shelf.
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Climate cuts seen industrial built in a pinch – news Vestland
