Norway can contribute to an independent Europe
This is a comment. It expresses the writer’s own opinions.
That this is our time Europe was unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Equally unexpected is Germany’s geopolitical awakening. Massive defense investments, military support to Kyiv, recognition of gas dependence as a strategic mistake. The Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, spoke in the Bundestag about a historic turning point for Europe, and brought the parliament and the public into the new reality.
That’s how Helmut Kohl was seized the moment in November 1989. Three weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he launched his own plan for German unification in the same Bundestag, astonishing both friend and foe.
Now that Berlin does not no longer using the brakes, Europe is using the force of economic sanctions with full force. To the extent that one can use “game changer” as the term, it may never have been more correct than now.
Europe will self-elect cut own power imports. This can be done through various rationalization measures and upscaling of own power production. When Europe calls for more energy, we must take responsibility and deliver.
We got a taste on the imbalance in the energy market even before Russia’s attack on Ukraine and it is a paradox that we should make money on this war. But then we have to ask ourselves how do we choose to contribute? It is our crossroads.
We must strengthen ours relationship with democratic Europe by showing that we are part of the solution. The changes we are facing require enormous access to power. The discussion about electricity, energy systems and connections abroad is about more than just electricity prices in Norway.
The choices we make are crucial to being able to cut climate emissions in Northern Europe. The invasion of Ukraine and the way Putin has used gas as a tool to create high energy prices, dissatisfaction and instability in Europe show that this is also about security policy.
Norway should be a secure and predictable partner for our democratic neighbors and pursue an energy policy that helps ensure security in Europe.
The world is inside a historic energy shift. With the green shift, Norway is facing a possible new, industrial era, but also a major challenge. The estimates are different, but the conclusion is clear. As a country, we will use far more electricity in the years to come. Norway needs much more renewable energy. And in the short term, Europe needs more gas from countries like Norway.
Our engines in the power innovation is on the ball. In that sense, Norway is fortunate, even with our natural advantages. Water and wind are perfect. We can turn off hydropower when it blows a lot and turn on hydropower when it blows less. Although power produced with wind power is still slightly increased, our wind power production by 20 percent last year.
Yara will lay on the fertilizer production of ammonia produced by electricity instead of natural gas. In a world that needs more food, this is important. TiZir Titanium and Iron will use hydrogen instead of coal and Horizon Energy with Vår Energi and Equinor will produce ammonia from natural gas, capture carbon emissions in the process and thereby create and close to emission-free energy carriers.
Russia’s war of aggression also exacerbates the global food crisis and the consequences extend far beyond European borders as long as the wheat distributed by the UN to the very poorest in the world has originated in Russia and Ukraine.
When should we leave fossil for renewable production, we have both levers here in Norway. Europe is screaming for non-Russian energy. Norway must interact better with the rest of democratic Europe.
We must contribute predictable deliveries of gas and renewable energy. At the same time, we must ensure that the power-intensive industry has good enough framework conditions in Norway. It will always be rational to produce the closest possible energy source. We must take our responsibility in Europe, and we must share our wealth with the world. Norway is not an island, we are served by a Europe and a world that is moving forward, not being bombed back to the Stone Age.