NTNU Energy Transition Podcast

During the Oslo Innovation Week at the end of September, I interviewed Israeli entrepreneur and investor, Eshel Lipman , founder of Ignite the Spark - a community that promotes EnergyTech in Israel. In this episode, Lipman shares insights into his journey from engineering in Australia to founding an energy tech startup, and the intricacies of Israel's energy landscape. We talk about the shift...

In today's episode, we discuss the emerging field of agrophotovoltaics (agri-PV) with Marta Victoria , an associate professor specializing in solar photovoltaics and energy systems modeling at the University of Aarhus in Denmark. We learn about the basic concept of agro-PV, combining agriculture and solar panels on farmland, and discuss its benefits, geographical viability, challenges, and the...

Ewan Dunlop leads the European Solar Test installation at the Joint Research Centre (JRC). As we will cover in the episode, JRC's work is significant in the standardization and calibration of solar PV technologies, which ensures accurate measurements, reliability, and trustworthy information for consumers. In this episode, Dunlops explains the history of solar PV testing, emphasizing its evolu...

In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of just transitions in the context of energy transition. The episode features a conversation with  Dr. Kirsten Jenkins , a senior lecturer in Energy, Environment, and Society at Edinburgh University, discussing the challenges and complexities of achieving a fair and equitable energy transition. We delve into four key principles or tenets: distributio...

In today’s episode: The complex decision-making process behind the energy infrastructure at Norway's Melkøya LNG plant. The plant, located in the Snøhvit field in the northernmost region of Norway, lacks a pipeline to transport gas to Europe. Therefore, the gas must be liquefied, a highly energy-intensive process. There have been plans to decarbonize the liquefaction process through carbon cap...

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 plan...

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 count...

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 el...

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...

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...

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....

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 star...

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 d...

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...

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 shap...

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 v...

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...

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 f...

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 gro...

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 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 ga...

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...

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 p...

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 compre...

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 f...