NTNU Energy Transition Podcast

Carl Christian Strømberg, is founder and CEO of Solcellespesialisten, Norway's largest solar PV installer. Carl shares his journey from graduating with an electronics degree from NTNU in 2005 to becoming the CEO of a leading solar company in Norway. He talks openly about the challenges of starting a solar business in a market where solar installations were virtually nonexistent, and his plans for the future. Over the years, Solcellespesialisten has snowballed, doubling its workforce and expanding its operations several times. Carl explains how the company focuses on quality and close relationships with customers to achieve this growth. When listening to this episode you will also learn about the status quo of the Norwegian solar energy ecosystem and how Carl and Solcellerspecialisten aim to shape it in the future as the energy transition progresses. --- The NTNU Energy Transition Podcast is a project by the NTNU Energy Transition Initiative designed to share energy-related knowledge and, thereby, help accelerate the deep decarbonization of our society as swiftly as possible. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to this podcast and give it a five-star rating on the app of your choice. Thanks a lot and looking forward to have you back in two weeks. If you want to send me feedback or suggest other podcast guests please reach out via Linkedin, or write me an email to julius.wesche@ntnu.no.

In this episode, I interview the Executive Vice President for Sustainability at SINTEF, Nils Røkke, in front of a live audience during NTNU's Hyfer festival. The conversation, initially meant to focus on Norway's looming power deficit, also encompasses other aspects of Norway's energy transition and the challenges it faces Røkke explains that Norway is one of the most electrified countries globally, but that it still relies on fossil fuels in some sectors. He touches on the trade-offs involved in the transition, such as social acceptance of renewable energy projects and the balance between affordability, competitiveness, and sustainability. Røkke emphasizes the importance of developing renewables, energy efficiency, and offshore wind power to meet the growing energy demand while reducing carbon emissions. He also mentions the role of hydropower and the need for more investments in the energy sector to achieve decarbonization goals. After our talk, we invited the audience to challenge Nils with some questions of their own.

In this episode, we cover three recent news related to energy transition. First, I discuss the electrification of Melkøya, an energy island off the coast of Hammerfest in Norway. Next, about Germany's decision to phase out fossil heating systems, which contribute significantly to the nation's CO2 emissions, and will likely reduce the demand for gas from Norway. And finally, an update on electric vehicle registrations in Norway, where more than 83% of new passenger cars registered in August 2023 were electric. This episode was a bit make-shift, as the planned guest had to cancel. But stay tuned for upcoming episodes: Next we're interviewing Carl Christian Strømberg, Founder/CEO of Solcellespesialisten, Norway's largest solar installer. Plus, don't miss the live episode recording on September 22nd and a Green Energy Shifters networking event on September 28th in Oslo as part of Oslo Innovation Week.

Nicola Paltrinieri is a Professor of Risk Assessment at the NTNU Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and leads the NTNU Team Hydrogen. He joins us to discuss the complexities of hydrogen safety and its role in the energy transition. The conversation starts off by bringing up an earlier podcast episode. In episode 44, Professor Robert Warren Howarth, co-author of the controversial paper "How Green is Blue Hydrogen?" was a guest. Professor Paltrinieri was part of a comment team that aimed to provide a more balanced view of that paper, and helps us understand the nuances of the debate surrounding the paper, emphasizing the importance of data accuracy, context, and diversification in investment. Following the blue hydrogen discussion, the conversation shifts to hydrogen safety. Professor Paltrinieri explores the complexity of hydrogen safety, emphasizing that it involves multiple factors beyond just combustion and explosion risks. He addresses the challenges of working with an emerging technology where operational experience is limited, leading to uncertainties in statistical analysis. Additionally, he discusses the interaction between human factors and technology, and the need for effective inspection and maintenance strategies. Also, check out research centers HYDROGENi, HyValue, and the Norwegian research school on hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels, HySchool.

In this summer bonus episode, Herman Hegli Sagør from YoungEnergy discusses various aspects of the energy transition with Jacopo Iorino from Equinor. They delve into Equinor's commitment to net-zero goals, renewable energy, and career opportunities for graduates interested in working in the renewable industry. Iorino, a leader in Equinor's communications department, shares his experiences as a graduate within the company, where rotations among different departments are common. The conversation covers Equinor's efforts to balance oil and gas production with renewable energy growth, emphasizing increased carbon efficiency and developing renewable projects like wind and solar. Iorino highlights the company's focus on strategic planning, investment allocation, and the importance of individuals contributing to the energy transition within various roles. He explains how Equinor's diverse business segments allow employees to engage in different dimensions of the energy transition, whether one's passion lies in renewables, strategy, engineering, or other areas.

Due to the holiday break, we've asked youth from Young Energy and Young Climate to create two bonus episodes for us. Having the freedom to choose both guests and topics themselves, their first episode delves into a somewhat controversial topic: Nuclear energy, and its potential in Norway. Today's host, Daniel Øystrøm, starts by discussing the historical context of nuclear energy in Norway. The episode features two other students from UngEnergi and UngKlima, and Professor Erik Wahlström, the leader of the newly established NTNU Team Nuclear, whose primary goal is to gather information and resources related to nuclear energy to determine the best strategies for the university's involvement in the field. Their discussion touch upon public and political opinion on nuclear energy in Norway, the complexity of the current nuclear energy debate, the credible arguments on both sides, and the potential risks and costs associated with nuclear power. The need for a more nuanced public debate is emphasized. Ultimately, the episode explores whether Norway should actively participate in nuclear energy development or wait to observe progress in other countries before making decisions. It raises questions about the viability and safety of different nuclear technologies, such as thorium-filled reactors, and the importance of cost-effectiveness in determining the future of nuclear energy in Norway.

Jørn Haanæs is the investment director at Katapult, a climate venture capital fund. We discuss the challenges and rewards of being involved in startups, emphasizing the need for passion, excellence, resilience, and the importance of pursuing meaningful problems and maintaining motivation in the face of challenges. Haanæs explains the role of venture capital firms in providing risk capital to startups and highlights the importance of finding outliers that can generate significant returns. We look closer at the concept of accelerators and how Katapult combines venture capital investment with an accelerator program to support early-stage startups.

In this episode of the NTNU Energy Transition Podcast, we invite Hege Marie Norheim to discuss the future of battery production in Europe. Hege, who is an executive vice president at FREYR, shares her journey from working in the Prime Minister's office in Norway to her current role in the battery industry. She helps us understand how batteries play a crucial role in the energy transition, by decarbonizing the transportation sector and scaling renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Norheim sheds light on the growing demand for batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. While discussing the potential for recycling used lithium-ion batteries from the mobility market, she emphasizes that the demand for fresh batteries is enormous and expected to increase significantly in the coming years. The conversation also touches upon different types of batteries, including vanadium flow batteries used in stationary applications. Hege explains that each battery type has its own advantages and trade-offs depending on factors such as charging speed, energy storage capacity, and lifespan. She emphasizes the need for optimizing battery chemistry to meet various requirements. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the role of batteries in the energy transition and the future of battery production in Europe. Norway's "IRA": https://www.dn.no/politikk/ira/jan-christian-vestre/store-regjeringen/mener-den-norske-pakken-er-bedre-enn-usas/2-1-1477692 (norwegian article)

Emil Yde Aasen, a Market Strategy & Insight Manager at Aker Carbon Capture, shares his insights on the challenges and developments in the CCS market. Together, we discuss the importance of CCS in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and enabling decarbonization in hard-to-abate industries. Emil also highlights the two operational CCS projects in Norway and the ongoing efforts to capture and store CO2 emissions from industrial processes. The episode provides an overview of CCS, its significance in combating climate change, and the emerging field of carbon capture and utilization. We shed light on the progress made in CCS technology and the need for further commercial projects to scale up its implementation. Join the conversation to learn more about the current state and future prospects of CCS in Norway and beyond. Also, consider joining our Green Energy Shifters networking meeting tomorrow. See more information at greenenergyshifters.no.

Anne Margrethe M. Platou, an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) analyst at DNB, one of the largest banks in the Nordic region, joins our 50th episode to talk about steering capital flows toward low-carbon projects. She explains the importance of finance and capital flows in driving the energy transition and highlights the role of banks in channeling capital toward new solutions that shape the future. We look at three key components: commercial banking, asset management, and investment banking, and highlight how they work together to realize the bank's sustainability strategy. The current state of the financing system is discussed, and we explore strategies, challenges, and opportunities in aligning it with the energy transition, emphasizing the role of banks, investors, and pension funds. Find our LinkedIn page here (and don't forget to follow). --- The NTNU Energy Transition Podcast aims to function as a knowledge hub that empowers individuals and organizations in Europe and beyond to tackle climate change and move our global society towards carbon neutrality. New episodes every second Thursday. The podcast is hosted by the NTNU Energy Transition Initiative which was established to deliver world-leading research on energy transition strategies to achieve the Paris ambitions. You can find us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and on our webpage. Please reach out by mail to "julius.wesche@ntnu.no".