Nordic Green News - 20 July, 2020

Norway’s €2.1bn carbon-capture mega-project gets approval

The Norwegian government’s decision to fund the scale-up of carbon-capture-storage (CCS) technology with €2.1 billion got the green light from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The Norwegian government has been cleared to pay 80% of the costs on a large-scale CCS project by the state aid regulator of the EFTA, which hailed the plan as a “groundbreaking step towards tackling climate change”. The funding will be used to build CCS facilities at two sites: one at a cement factory and one at a waste-to-energy power plant, where emissions will be captured before they escape into the atmosphere. Captured emissions will then be transported in liquified form to the coast and piped offshore, where they will be stored under the seabed. This latter part of the process will be carried out by the Northern Lights project, a joint venture of fossil fuel firms Equinor, Shell and Total.

 

Norway aggrieved by EU favouring green over blue hydrogen

A number of Norwegian organisations have expressed their displeasure at the EUs hydrogen strategy. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), Norwegian Oil and Gas, Industri Energi, Equinor and Aker Solutions have all conveyed their concerns to the EU Commission in connection with the design of the new strategy. "With regard to sources of hydrogen, we believe it is crucial that the authorities take a technology-neutral approach," the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy wrote in its consultation input. "Whether hydrogen comes from decarbonised natural gas (blue hydrogen) or renewable surplus power (green hydrogen) should not be a question as long as we can be sure that the energy contributes to reducing emissions," says the NHO.

 

Swedegas and other gas network operators present a solution for hydrogen infrastructure

A group of eleven European gas infrastructure companies from nine EU Member States presented a report with a plan for the infrastructure for hydrogen transport. A week after the European Commission published its hydrogen strategy, the study showed that existing gas infrastructure can be modified to transport hydrogen at an affordable price. The companies' propose that a network will gradually take shape from the mid-2020s to a 6,800 km long gas network by 2030 that connects existing hydrogen clusters. The cost of building the network is estimated at between 27 and 64 billion euros. Download the report here.

 

H2Cluster will position Norwegian hydrogen expertise

H2Cluster aims to create a national innovation arena for hydrogen, positioning Norway as an energy and technology nation in the global market. H2Cluster's ambition is to strengthen cooperation between hydrogen environments across all the players. H2Cluster leader Knut Linnerud said “If we are to take advantage of the global investment in hydrogen, and take an international position in this market, we must cooperate and play well with each other. Not only within the cluster, but also outside, with other companies, institutions, clusters and organizations.”

 

Northvolt lands €2 billion order from BMW

Northvolt has received an order for more than SEK 20 billion from the German car company BMW, which will invest heavily in clean electric cars in the future. The batteries will be manufactured at new factory in Skellefteå, which will start production late next year. According to a press release BMW will receive its first battery deliveries from Skellefteå in 2024.

 

Norway is one of the world's cheapest charging countries

Tensio, a Norwegian grid operator, has published an analysis inspired by The Economist’s Big-Mac index to make a comparison of car charging costs in Norway and other countries. By checking the prices on Tesla's charging network, the claim that the lowest charging price in Norway, at a cost of NOK 1.70 (€0.16) per kWh. According to Tensio, Norway is one of the world's cheapest charging countries, with prices half that of Germany and Denmark, who are among the most expensive.

 

Zero-emissions tender for Norwegian shipping

Norwegian shippers Felleskjopet Agri and Heidelberg Cement Group have tendered for two bulk carriers that do not emit CO2. The plan is for the ships to sail along the Norwegian coast and transport grain one way and gravel the other way. The companies will enter into a joint long-term charter agreement. Support may be sort through the Norwegian NOx Fund or Innovation Norway.

 

Denmark helps Ethiopia towards green adventure

Today, more than half of Ethiopia's 110 million people do not have access to energy. But the goal is "energy for everyone" by 2025. Ethiopia's Energy Minister has spent several days in the Denmark to study Denmark's experiences with wind energy. He has visited Danish authorities and Danish universities. He says that he believes that there a strong collaboration with the Danish authorities. We bring Danish experiences into play together with the Danish Energy Agency and Energinet in the form of concrete training of Ethiopian officials and technicians - both in Ethiopia and in Denmark. Soon the first sod will be taken to a wind farm south of Addis Ababa, with Danish wind turbines.

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