#58 What does Electrifying the Melkøya LNG plant tell us about Norwegian CCS? (with Eivind Berstad, Bellona)

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 capture and storage (CCS) technology. However, recently the government has shifted towards electrification, raising questions about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of CCS. Our guest this week is Eivind Berstad, a chemical engineer and team leader for CCS in the environmental NGO Bellona - an organization working towards finding climate solutions, emphasizing the importance of industry cooperation and research funding. Together, we delve into the Melkøya plant's history, operational challenges, the reasons behind considering electrification over carbon capture, and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. We consider factors like rising emission costs and the future outlook of carbon reduction initiatives. The episode highlights the urgency in finding economically viable solutions to curb emissions and achieve climate goals, underscoring the intricate balance between environmental responsibility and economic viability. Mentioned in this episode: Eivind on the Mimir & Marsdal podcast.