Professors Arne Nysveen and Leif Lia at NTNU claim in a feature on news Ytring on 2 May that it is a goal for many to drive oil and gas extraction on the shelf with electricity from land. This is where the professors fail. The aim is to reduce emissions from oil and gas production by 50 per cent by 2030 and down to zero in 2030. The question then is, how do we achieve this? Electrification with power from shore is the most important measure until 2030. Not all fields on the Norwegian continental shelf are to be electrified. We also do not electrify at any price. The electrification projects that are planned to be carried out are consistently profitable and provide major emission reductions in Norway and globally. Each individual project is assessed separately. Cost, the power situation and the lifetime of the fields are among the factors that are assessed before a decision is made to electrify. In addition, electrification of the shelf will release gas which will enable us to increase exports to Europe by 2.5 per cent. Although it may sound small, it represents large amounts of energy. For every terawatt-hour of power we source from land, gas equivalent to 2 TWh is released for export to Europe. It will be an important contribution to securing Europe the energy they demand from Norway and securing jobs here at home in the future as well. Many companies are also actively working on research and development of new technologies, as the chronicle authors call for, such as carbon capture on the installations, compact combined power plants and the use of hydrogen or ammonia for power generation on the shelf. These technologies will probably not contribute to major emission cuts in 2030, but could be absolutely decisive for Norway and Europe to reach their climate targets in 2050. We must work together to solve the demanding power situation, while at the same time reaching the climate targets. Our industry wants to take part in this increase in power by investing in offshore wind. But we must have a greater pace of development if offshore wind is to play a greater role in electrifying the shelf and remedying the pressured power situation. All industries, both in Norway and elsewhere in the world, face demands from customers, consumers and authorities to reduce their emissions. With increasingly higher requirements and taxes, it will be those who can produce with the lowest emissions and at the lowest price who will be the most competitive. Electrification of the fields where it is profitable will ensure that we can produce energy that Europe needs, with minimal emissions for a long time to come. It is important for the continental shelf’s competitiveness and for society’s income, far into the future. Read the chronicle:
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The goal is not electrification, the goal is to cut emissions – Statement
