Arendalsuka 2024
Image: Mona Hauglid
“We all know what to do, but we don’t know how to get re-elected once we have done it”
Image: Norsk Hydrogenforum
Last week, the entire Norwegian hydrogen ecosystem participated at the annual Arendalsuka, the largest gathering for politics, business and civil society in Norway. Five days of conferences, debates and mingling.
Like last year, the topics were mostly the same (energy, sustainability, artificial intelligence, geopolitics and security matters). The jokes were the old classics too in a hydro and oil powered economy:” It’s finally raining again, and it’s good for business!” and “It’s a good thing the state budget isn’t signed for in Arendal, it would have been expansive!”.
As for our industry, the topics were mainly revolving around the maritime sector, land-based industry and aviation. Sustainable fuels on sea, land and in the air are all present in the discussions. Our overall impression is that people are still quite optimistic and impatient about the future use of hydrogen in Norwegian value chains. The possible export of hydrogen and ammonia itself, Norwegian equipment and services to Europe, is still very much on the agenda.
However, to succeed, there were quite a few requests from the industry and the politicians themselves in the different debates we attended.
International cooperation with relevant partners in the Nordics and Europe needs to evolve. How do we connect Norway to the rest of the continent for heavy-duty trucking? Continue the positive work towards the IMO and the use of alternative fuels in international shipping.
Public-private partnership: Norwegian authorities are buying goods and services for around 60 billion Euros every year, and they should make sure that tenders like the ones for ferries on the Norwegian coast should be better suited for alternative fuels. Regional authorities are willing to move in a green direction, and they should receive national support to finance the remaining gaps.
Long term frameworks: the general framework must be clarified (regulations, support schemes, CO2-prices, taxes etc.)
Other subjects were the need for more green energy production in Norway, the possible positive impact the Norwegian navy could have on civil application along the coast if they go green, the positive feedback given to state agency Enova for listening to the industry.
Regarding Europe, Dr. Zuleeg from the think tank European Policy Centre voiced that the geopolitical situation would force the EU to spend their money on security matters, and that the green transition will be heavily determined by the access to private capital.
On a positive note, if we are to believe Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen and other leading politicians in power, Norwegian authorities are willing to support the maritime sector and grant more money to Enova in this year’s budget.
Come October, and we will see if they have sorted the riddle out.
