NTNU Energy Transition Podcast

In this episode, we explore the topic of scaling low-carbon technologies. Without a guest this time, I will delve into my own field of study: Sustainability transition theory, innovation theory, and innovation systems theory, to shed light on what it takes to effectively scale low-carbon technology and accelerate the energy transition. I will share my own research and insights, aiming to provide valuable information for those involved in scaling low-carbon technology and driving the energy transition. The episode starts by discussing sustainability transitions and the processes involved in shifting social-technical systems toward sustainability. I emphasize the multidimensional changes required, including technological, material, organizational, institutional, political, economic, and social-cultural aspects. You will learn how sustainability transitions are ongoing processes that take time and lead to the emergence of new products, services, business models, and organizations. The episode then focuses on a framework called the multi-level perspectives, introduced by Frank Geels, which helps in understanding sustainability transitions. Geels’s framework includes the concepts of regimes (existing systems), landscapes (external pressures), and niches (emerging alternatives). I explain how regimes need external pressure from the landscape to break up and create space for more sustainable niche configurations, and highlight the importance of understanding these dynamics in order to drive effective scaling of low-carbon technologies.

Lina Bertling Tjernberg is a Professor in Power Grid Technology at KTH – The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. In this episode, she helps us understand how the power grid work. We start by discussing the importance of reliability in power grids and how it relates to asset management. Then we delve into the structure of the Swedish power system and the challenges it faces due to the country's geography and the distribution of population centers. We also touch on the current developments in the Scandinavian power grids and how challenges such as integrating renewable energy sources can be alleviated in the long run. Check out Lina's book on Infrastructure Asset Management with Power System Applications. — 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 toward carbon neutrality. New episodes every other Thursday. The NTNU Energy Transition Initiative was established to deliver world-leading research on energy transition strategies, to achieve the Paris ambitions in an efficient and realistic way. Every March we organize the NTNU Energy Conference in Trondheim, Norway. You can find us on ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, and on our ⁠⁠webpage⁠⁠. Please reach out by mail to ⁠⁠julius.wesche@ntnu.no⁠⁠.

In this episode of the NTNU Energy Transition Podcast, we discuss "BECCS", or Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage. We explore the use of biomass for heating and capturing CO2 to be stored underground, and how it fits into pathways for reaching net zero emissions. I am joined by Fabian Levihn, the head of R&D at Stockholm Exergi and a member of the carbon removals expert group for the European Commission. Levihn explains how BECCS technology works and its potential as a negative emissions solution. We also discuss policy frameworks and market models needed to make BECCS and other negative emissions technologies economically feasible. — 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 toward carbon neutrality. New episodes every other Thursday. The NTNU Energy Transition Initiative was established to deliver world-leading research on energy transition strategies, to achieve the Paris ambitions in an efficient and realistic way. Every March we organize the NTNU Energy Conference in Trondheim, Norway. You can find us on ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, and on our ⁠⁠webpage⁠⁠. Please reach out by mail to ⁠⁠julius.wesche@ntnu.no⁠⁠.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of science and activism in the fight against climate change. We delve into the growing movement of scientist activists, who are using their expertise and research to advocate for climate action through unconventional means, like civil disobedience. Our guest is Angeline Bruls, a PhD candidate at NTNU's Department of Biology. Bruls is part of the group Scientist Rebellion, who have an active group here in Trondheim. Together, we discuss the role of universities in the fight against climate change, where Brulss shares her experiences with NTNU, how Scientist Rebellion is influencing the university, and future goals. — 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 toward carbon neutrality. New episodes every other Thursday. The NTNU Energy Transition Initiative was established to deliver world-leading research on energy transition strategies, to achieve the Paris ambitions in an efficient and realistic way. Every March we organize the NTNU Energy Conference in Trondheim, Norway. You can find us on ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, and on our ⁠⁠webpage⁠⁠. Please reach out by mail to ⁠⁠julius.wesche@ntnu.no⁠⁠.

How do the plans for further oil exploration of the Norwegian government fit with recent reports of the IPCC that we are on a path well above the Paris goals of 2° centigrade? Why is drilling in the Arctic pushed by the Norwegian government, despite not only environmental concerns but also substantially higher predicted extraction costs? And why are strongly needed renewables so highly taxed in Norway? These questions and more asked Julius to Andreas Bjelland Eriksen who is the state secretary in the Norwegian Ministry for Petroleum and Energy during Andreas' visit to Trondheim last week for the NTNU Energy Transition Week. If you want to know the answers, check out the episode. Join StartUp Extreme if you are a startup founder or investor in Hemsedal, Norway 26-27 April 2023. Julius will host a panel debate on "Navigating our way out of the Energy Crisis" on April 27th at 2.30pm. — 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 toward carbon neutrality. New episodes every other Thursday. The NTNU Energy Transition Initiative was established to deliver world-leading research on energy transition strategies, to achieve the Paris ambitions in an efficient and realistic way. Every March we organize the NTNU Energy Conference in Trondheim, Norway. You can find us on ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, and on our ⁠webpage⁠. Please reach out by mail to ⁠julius.wesche@ntnu.no⁠.

Robert Warren Howarth is a professor and earth system scientist at Cornell University (USA), and is also member of the Climate Action Council appointed by the State of New York. In 2021, Howarth and Stanford Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, stirred up controversy with their paper, "How Green is Blue Hydrogen?" Their study found that the production of blue hydrogen results in significant greenhouse gas emissions, both carbon dioxide and unburned fugitive methane, which is a major contributor to climate change. Even with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, the emissions associated with blue hydrogen are still substantial, argue Howarth and Jacobson. The peer-reviewed paper sparked a lot of reactions. Among others, researchers here at NTNU later published a Comment on “How green is blue hydrogen?”, questioning Howarth and Jacobson's methods for computing the energy balance of blue hydrogen plants, and saying the assumed methane leakage in the United States cannot represent all natural gas and blue hydrogen value chains globally. Has the dust now settled? We sat down and had a chat with Professor Robert W. Howarth, to find out. --- Next week, we are organizing the NTNU Energy Transition Week 2023 in Trondheim, Norway. The week features our annual conference, energy transition-related networking events, a town hall assembly, and expert-led workshops with different focus areas. Are you a young professional and want to accelerate the energy transition in Norway. If yes, then join me, Dr. Julius Wesche, on March 20th for the first face-to-face meeting of the Green Energy shifters network (www.greenenergyshifters.no).

Lars-Henrik Paarup Michelsen is the Director of The Norwegian Climate Foundation - a think tank that specializes in climate issues, publishes energy-related news online, and organizes events on climate issues. In this podcast episode, we discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Norway's energy industry. We explore the dilemma of moving away from a profitable oil and gas business model while still meeting short-term demand from Europe. The conversation raises questions about Norway's long-term strategy and the potential consequences of continuing to invest in oil and gas rather than transitioning to renewable energy solutions. Also, check out The Norwegian Climate Foundation's podcast, "Energi og Klima" --- 21 March, come meet us at our annual NTNU Energy Transition Conference in Trondheim, Norway. Join us on March 20th for the first Face to Face meeting of the Green Energy Shifters Network (greenenergyshifters.no). The Green Energy Shifters Network acts as a meeting place for energy  enthusiastic young professionals in Norway to exchange knowledge and  ideas as well as build their personal networks. Members of the Green Energy Shifters Network are young professionals  from businesses, academia, and public administration (municipalities, fylkeskommune etc).

Are you a young professional and want to accelerate the energy transition in Norway. If yes, then join us on March 20th for the first face-to-face meeting of the Green Energy shifters network (www.greenenergyshifters.no). Germany has two critical needs: first, to decarbonize its heavy industry at scale using hydrogen, and second, to access storage for its CO2. Fortunately, Norway can provide both. As a result, Germany and Norway are currently in discussions to determine the optimal pipeline routes, suitable locations for wind farms, and the amount of CO2 storage capacity that can be made available. At the forefront of the project on the Norwegian side is Odd Even Jakobsen, the key project manager at Gassco AS who is facilitating the examination of the currently conducted feasibility study of how such a mammoth task could look like in real life. Together with his German counterpart, they are conducting an in-depth study on the potential structure of a hydrogen and CO2 value chain that could bring the two countries closer together. In this episode Odd Even and I delve into the current gas infrastructure and the transportation of gas from the Norwegian Continental Shelf to Europe. In addition, we discussed how hydrogen could be utilized in the future for industrial purposes, as well as the various challenges that both nations may encounter when implementing a hydrogen and CO2 value chain. Both CEOs of Gassco (Frode Leversund) and the German Energy Agency (Andreas Kuhlmann) will be at this year's NTNU Energy Transition Conference, on March 21st in Trondheim. We are organizing this free event and would be thrilled if you can attend. The week is filled with energy transition-related networking events, a town hall assembly, and expert-led workshops with different focus areas. All the information is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/daEumNdW.

Mitchel Selby works on Shopify's Sustainability Fund, which supports the most promising solutions to fighting climate change. Right now, they're focused on kickstarting carbon removal and decarbonizing shipping. Despite increasing awareness and calls for action, many companies are still wary of making investments in carbon removal. But fear not, Mitchel Selby and Shopify have put together a comprehensive guide to make the process a lot less daunting. In "Buying Carbon Removal, Explained" they lay out nine lessons that cover everything from building a strong business case to finalizing a contract with your supplier. So in this episode, we demystify purchasing carbon removal and learn how to make a positive impact on the environment." Join us on March 20th for the first Face to Face meeting of the Green Energy Shifters Network (greenenergyshifters.no). The Green Energy Shifters Network acts as a meeting place for energy  enthusiastic young professionals in Norway to exchange knowledge and  ideas as well as build their personal networks. Members of the Green Energy Shifters Network are young professionals  from businesses, academia, and public administration (municipalities, fylkeskommune etc).

Scaling Direct Air Capture technologies will need substantial capital. Hence, in this episode we will discuss where financing and capital comes from for Direct Air Capture, what the barriers are and what needs to be done to funnel more resources into Direct Air Capture startups. This podcast episode is the third in a series about Direct Air Capture (DAC), a technology that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Our guest this time is Andrew Shebbeare, a managing partner at Counteract, an investment firm that focuses on combating climate change through Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies. The episode covers topics such as the barriers, drivers, and types of markets for DAC, and discusses what needs to happen for it to scale in the future. Mentioned in this episode: https://www.cdr.fyi/