Hydrogen Summit Meeting
Tuesday 17th of November, the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and the Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru, invited various industry representatives to a digital Summit Meeting to discuss hydrogen technologies.
Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru
During the spring of 2021, the Norwegian government will submit a report to the parliament on long-term value creation from Norwegian energy resources.
- The goal is to visualize the industrial potential in Norwegian energy resources as a basis for future profitable workplaces. In this report, a road map for hydrogen will be presented, among other things, said Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tina Bru.
As part of the mapping for the road map for hydrogen, major players in the field were invited to provide concrete input to the government. The following participated in the meeting: Equinor, Norled, Varanger Kraft, Elkem Bremanger, NEL, Nysnø, Reinertsen New Energy, Statkraft, Wilhelmsen and YARA.
High on the agenda
Prime Minister Erna Solberg opened the Summit Meeting by saying;
- There is a lot of hydrogen expertise at this digital meeting today. The government has hydrogen high up on the agenda. With the help of the road map, we can systematize further investment in hydrogen and renewable energy along the Norwegian coast.
During the meeting, many concrete suggestions and good input were given from the participants about the possibilities and what they see as challenges in the process to make hydrogen usable and profitable.
Hydrogen projects along the Norwegian coast
The CEO of Norled, Heidi Wolden, presented Vestfjorden as a project that can generate competence and resources in the industry.
- Several sectors in the maritime industry can take part in the changes within hydrogen in transport. Norled supports the government’s demand to use hydrogen ferries on the route across Vestfjorden. This is an excellent project that can contribute to the blossoming of the industry. It is beneficial for both the climate and Norwegian businesses, Wolden said.
- When the road map is finished, Vestfjorden can help to build up competence and resources in the industry.
CEO of Nel Hydrogen, Jon André Løkke, explained that there are several hydrogen projects in progress along the Norwegian coast and informed about the importance of developing skilled workers, business development and create more workplaces.
- This is an exciting field that is varied and connects different industries. In order to achieve further development in the field, we need to look at what is happening in Europe and have specific goals for building infrastructure, Løkke said.
Arne Werge-Olsen in Elkem Bremanger talked about the importance to create a market that provides profitability for the industry.
- We will not see a greener future if there are only red numbers. Norway needs a green industrial investment, and the business community has to take an active role in the investment. We must put in place at least as good conditions as the rest of the EU.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg ended the meeting by thanking for all the good input.
– It is exciting to see so many important players. We must find the right tools, but also find more contributors with long-term capital that are willing to invest in future projects.
If you wish to submit input to the government’s work on the road map for hydrogen, you can find more information here. The deadline to submit input is 10. December.
Questions?
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Miriam Edler
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M: +47 993 91 599
Email: miriam@hubforocean.no