This year's deep dive study 2023
OG21 conducts every year a study on a topic of particular strategic interest for the Norwegian petroleum sector. In 2023, we will look at Norway's role as perhaps the most important energy partner for Europe, and how technology contributes to security of supply from the Norwegian continental shelf.
The war in Ukraine has put energy security even more clearly on the agenda. In order to become independent of Russian energy, Europe wants to accelerate renewable energy and phase out natural gas. As a consequence, Europe needs more natural gas from reliable countries, both in the form of LNG and piped gas.
At the same time, the UN Climate Panel's 6th report is clearer than ever on the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Although Norwegian deliveries of natural gas to Europe will be within volumes needed in energy transition scenarios, it may appear as a paradox that Norway should maintain its production of petroleum whilst European customers reduce their use of fossil fuels through the energy transition.
The Norwegian goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% up to 2030. Measures in the petroleum industry, and especially electrification, are important both for reaching Norway's and the petroleum industry's climate goals. But with an increased need for electrification also in other industries and sectors and with the prospect of a possible power deficit before 2030, electrification projects in the petroleum industry are now being challenged.
New technologies such as floating offshore wind and CCS can help solve challenges through the energy transition. They can contribute to reducing emissions from petroleum production and to provide low-emission energy to Norway and Europe. But even such solutions spur discussions, for example relating to the exchange of electrical power with foreign countries.
Over the past year, Norway has become an even more important energy partner for Europe. We have many opportunities to develop the partnership further through the energy transition, both in the short and longer term. Given that we are able to address the challenges we face on the NCS, we can continue to be an important contributor to energy security in Europe. Technology and knowledge are key elements of that.
This is the background for this year's deep dive study from OG21. The project goal is: Identify threats to the supply of energy from the Norwegian continental shelf to Europe and describe how the Norwegian oil and gas sector can contribute with technology and knowledge to remove, mitigate or otherwise manage such threats.
OG21 will engage a consulting firm to assist OG21 in the work. The invitation to tender is announced through Mercell and TED, and the entire set of tendering documents is available there. The deadline for applications for pre-qualification is 19 May. Pre-qualified firms will then be invited to tender within the tendering deadline 20 June.
Copies of selected tender documents:
Messages at time of print 10 June 2023, 02:45 CEST