The Energy Commission has given us seven years to build the power needed to meet the needs of the green transition. At the same time, we need to make today's energy consumption more efficient. How do we achieve this? Some of the answers came during the seminar of the energy cluster NCE Smart Energy Markets.

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Use electric car batteries as a storage resource in the grid. Expand wind, solar and nuclear power. Increase digitalization and share more data. Establish new collaborations across industries. Develop innovative technological solutions.

The options for solving the energy crisis are many and good, and much has already been initiated. But there is still a long way to go, according to the summary of the energy seminar in Halden in June.

- We need many solutions at the same time, and we need interaction between them," said Guro Nereng, climate advisor at Fredrikstad Municipality, from the stage.

- Challenging situation

She focused on the power situation in Søndre Viken, which consists of the municipalities of Fredrikstad, Hvaler, Sarpsborg, Halden and Aremark. There is a lack of power transmission in several areas, and there is a great need for increased grid capacity and new power production.

Nereng also pointed out the challenge of the current framework conditions hampering good solutions in some cases. As an example, she highlighted the use of surplus energy from waste incineration plants. Today, incineration plants are treated differently internally in Norway and with Sweden in terms of carbon costs, which can make surplus energy too expensive for the industry.

- The connections are complicated, but there is a risk that the incineration plants could end up firing for the crow while industry fires with more natural gas. In the worst case scenario, the current situation leads to job losses or increased greenhouse gas emissions - or perhaps both. It's a challenging situation we're in," she says.

According to Nereng, an important step on the road to improvement is to work long-term to change the framework conditions so that challenges related to the surrounding infrastructure can be solved. Another key measure is to look at alternative solutions such as flexibility and power storage.

- It will probably help us a lot, even if it doesn't cover the entire need," she says.

• See the different presentations from the energy seminar here!

Batteries on wheels are part of the solution

One of the speakers at the seminar, which focused on flexibility and storage, was Tom Orvei from Current. They deliver a technological solution that makes it possible to use the power from car batteries as an additional resource in the power grid.

Today, everyone is familiar with one-way charging of electric cars. But the automotive industry has agreed that by 2025, all new electric car batteries will be capable of two-way charging so that power can be fed back into the grid.

The technology is called Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and can be translated as "vehicle to grid". The solution involves the battery pack of electric cars acting as a power storage space that is available to the grid. When the load on the grid and the price of electricity is low, the battery is charged, and when the load is high, the electricity can be returned.

This solution enables the electric car to even out the load on the grid and reduce power peaks.

A key part of the work towards 2025 is to develop a technical V2G standard for the automotive industry.

- There are many players involved, so car manufacturers, grid companies and consumers need to agree on the rules of the game and how this will work," says Tom Orvei.

Making better use of current capacity

Heimdall Power 's technological solution is another example of how the need for more power can be met in a different way than expanding the power grid.

The company creates smart solutions for grid companies that enable them to make even better use of existing grid resources.

- The grid companies get a knowledge base to make good decisions along the entire value chain of the grid company," says Vice President Regulatory Affairs Vivi Mathiesen.

She highlighted the Energy Commission's conclusion that we need more of everything - faster - to be able to solve the energy crisis and explained how Heimdall Power's sensor technology in combination with software helps utilities to plan operations, maintenance and investments in a more targeted way.

- "With the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement and the climate problems we face, we don't have time or money to ignore the potential of new technology," Mathiesen points out.

- We must do what works

The 130 or so participants were treated to a packed program with 19 speakers in the Smart Innovation Arena in Halden.

Engaged politicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders, climate advisors and business actors contributed with experiences, challenges, solutions, ideas, opinions and knowledge within the framework of NCE Smart Energy Systems' seminar: How to solve the energy crisis in South Viken.

Member of Parliament Stein Erik Lauvås is a member of the Energy and Environment Committee for the Østfold Labor Party and was one of the speakers. In his political work, it is important for him to get out and meet those who are experiencing the crisis up close.

- "I'm very pleased that you're taking the initiative for this type of gathering because we need to come together and discuss challenges. And it's particularly positive that you focus on problem solving and not just problem description," he says.

Lauvås finds both knowledge and inspiration by attending seminars and other meeting places. "The challenges are well known to most people, so now it's time to find solutions.

The Ap politician's main priority is therefore to put in place a regulatory system that enables municipalities, businesses and others to save energy, produce more energy and achieve climate and environmental goals.

- There is no single solution to the energy crisis. There are many, small and large together. Those of us who create the framework and regulations must ensure that we do our job based on the good, professional input we receive. We must listen to those who know this so that it is possible to implement what works," says Stein Erik Lauvås.

The energy seminar is part of the project "Sustainable business development in the transport sector" that NCE Smart Energy Markets is conducting together with the transport cluster SAMS Norway and the technology cluster Kongsberg Technology Cluster. The project is funded by Viken County Council.

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Eli Haugerud from Smart Innovation Norway will lead the work to establish a new meeting place across the country's many clusters.

The initiator of the new cluster network is FIN - The Association of Innovation Companies in Norway, which has most of the clusters as members.

General Manager Trine Ellingsen says that many people have asked to meet to exchange experiences and discuss current issues. 

- The clusters are key to Norway achieving its export and sustainability goals. We want to create an arena for sharing and collaboration,' she says in a press release.

Project manager with a lot of experience

Project manager Eli Haugerud works as Head of Communities at Smart Innovation Norway. This means that she is responsible for the innovation company's three clusters, NCE Smart Energy Markets, Cluster for Applied AI and the DECOM cluster, as well as the smart city initiative.

Knowing the needs of clusters with different levels of maturity and in different areas is useful in facilitating the exchange of expertise and experience for very different clusters. 

- Sharing is important. The immature can learn from those with more experience, we can also bring in impulses from outside and facilitate new collaborations," says Haugerud. 

- Happy to give something back

 This year, one or two meeting places are planned, and work is now continuing on the design of the program.  

- We have a dialog with several clusters to understand their needs and what we should do together. Industry Week in Porsgrunn is an example of an arena where we are present, and we would like to hear from more clusters," says the new project manager.

Ellingsen of FIN has great faith in the new offer.

- "The clusters are important to FIN and we are happy that we can now give this back to our members," says Ellingsen.

Smart Innovation Norway researchers Dr Iliana Ilieva and Prof Bernt A. Bremdal, together with co-authors Kristoffer Tangrand and Shayan Dadman from the Arctic University of Tromsø, got their scientific article E-Mobility and Batteries-A Business Case for Flexibility in the Arctic Region published in World Electric Vehicle Journal (WEVJ) in February 2023.

The article is a result of ongoing work within the CINELDI project, an eight-year Research Centre under the FME scheme (Centre for Environment-Friendly Energy Research).

The E-Mobility and Batteries-A Business Case for Flexibility in the Arctic Region paper presents a method for determining the economic incentives and limitations for a battery used for peak clipping (also with reference to mobile batteries).

A ratio called the R-factor has been introduced, which helps determine the energy demand to curb the peak.

The paper's results embrace different investment scenarios showing what battery capacity can be expected, depending on interest rates, payback time and potential savings in power tariffs due to curtailment.

In addition, the paper introduces the "wrench and cut" concept, which can help improve the investment case for batteries by combining battery operations with standard demand response operations.

In particular, the effect of using a limited form of demand response-based load deactivation together with a battery has been analyzed. Data from the Interreg North-funded project Smart Charge (2019-2021) has been utilized in the paper.

- Our findings are highly relevant for vehicle-to-grid/vehicle-to-building developments where a vehicle is considered a mobile battery. The results we provide in our paper open avenues for enhanced utilization of mobile or stationary batteries, something that will have a particularly positive effect on regions such as the Arctic, where coal is still a major energy source, says Dr Ilieva.

• Read the paper
• See all scientific publications

Facts about WEVJ:

The World Electric Vehicle Journal is the first peer-reviewed international scientific journal that covers all studies related to battery, hybrid, and fuel-cell electric vehicles comprehensively.

It is the official journal of The World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA), and its members are the European Association for e-Mobility(AVERE), the Electric Drive Transportation Association(EDTA), and the Electric Vehicle Association of Asia Pacific(EVAAP).

The WEVJ is published quarterly online by MDPI.

As a skills broker, Hermund Arntzen Dale has first-hand knowledge of how research can help companies solve their challenges.

Competence Broker is a free tool for developing business in Viken through research-related projects.

For several years, Smart Innovation Norway has represented one of seven brokers in Viken county. Hermund Arntzen Dale has recently taken on the role and is already well underway with both outreach activities and guidance of companies.

- Well suited as a competence broker

The aim is for business to develop through research-based innovation by helping business actors to identify areas where research can contribute to further growth.

Dale gets high praise as a skills broker from Violette Yi Qin, project coordinator for Skills Broker in Viken.

- We believe Hermund is a good fit for the role due to his work experience, educational background and personality. He has worked in various industries within energy and technology and has a good understanding of the public funding system both through academia and work in industry. The fact that he has work experience as an entrepreneur, we think is very positive - then you can forge closer ties with an important part of the companies, which is the main goal of competence brokerage. In addition, he is friendly and motivated, which we think is a success factor for being a good competence broker in Viken," she says.

The key tasks of a competence broker are to help companies identify problems that can be solved with research, find relevant partners and the right expertise in the research community, and find funding schemes that can co-finance the project.

- My background means that I have good knowledge of the public funding system, and that I know the needs and challenges of early-stage companies. I also find it very fun to tackle challenges in the business community and look at the opportunities that exist to develop new solutions while working with my areas of interest, which are technology, climate and the environment," says Dale.

- To become more profitable than they are today

The competence brokerage scheme is funded by the Viken County Council's Forregion programme, which aims to mobilize increased use of research as an innovation tool.

Based on the Research Council's three priority areas of sustainable transition and value creation, commercialization from research, and regional development, competence brokers have been established within urban, urban and regional development, health and care, climate, energy and environment, and technology.

Dale offers his expertise and advice in technology together with Per Olve Tobiassen from SpinOn AS in Kongsberg.

- The service is initially aimed at enterprises with little or no research experience. The premise is that development should take place through research. Together we will identify the problem and potential of the business, with the aim of creating returns and new jobs. We will simply find solutions that are more profitable than they are today," Dale explains.

Skills brokers exist in every county and the community works across municipal and county boundaries.

- I can easily connect them with the right competence broker in the right field and geographical location. The others do the same for me. In this way, we have a nationwide reach and, in practice, no limitations," says Dale.

Need for guidance

Most research and development (R&D) projects rely on funding schemes to be realized. And it is start-up companies that often have the opportunity to try out new ideas in response to changes in the market.

Unfortunately, figures from the Research Council show that small and early-stage companies are the most likely to have their applications rejected.

- Young companies naturally do not have experience in writing project applications, and many do not spend enough time on formulating themselves correctly or responding to what the call for proposals actually asks for. It can therefore be useful to get guidance from a competence broker when writing applications," says Dale.

The offer aims to give companies experience in R&D. The FORREGION Business Project support scheme is therefore central. Under this scheme, companies can receive up to NOK 200,000 for their research project.

Competence brokers also provide guidance on other funding schemes at the Research Council of Norway, the Regional Research Fund and other actors. However, competence brokers do not provide guidance on writing applications to Innovation Norway (IN)'s funding schemes because they have their own supervisors.

- We work closely with IN and can, however, refer to relevant personnel who can be of good help to the company, Dale explains.

Short route to skills and networks

The "competence broker" function was awarded to Smart Innovation Norway since the company already works with business, development, innovation, applied research, technology and clusters.

Read more about Smart Innovation Norway's business clusters:

• Cluster for Applied AI
• Cluster for Decommissioning and Repurposing

Dale has access to Smart Innovation's entire network and all the knowledge of its employees. This puts him in a particularly good position to assist Viken's business community.

- The way we work on a daily basis at Smart Innovation is not very different from the typical day-to-day work of a competence broker. We share and use methods such as facilitating workshops, uncovering needs, mapping competencies and identifying potential, so I have a short path to competencies other than my own," he explains.

Experience so far shows that the free skills brokerage offer has great potential to become known among business stakeholders.

A large part of Dale's job will therefore be to conduct outreach activities both directly to innovation environments, companies and individuals, and by being present at trade fairs, conferences and other meeting places where these actors participate.

- An important task will be to motivate innovation and development. Not everyone sees their own potential, but with my knowledge and network, I see opportunities where others do not. Nevertheless, it is crucial that the will to innovate comes from within, and another important part of my job will be to be realistic and make the right recommendations for further development," he says.

Practical information

There is no application process for using a competence broker, nor is there any cost associated with the service.

Interested parties can contact Hermund Arntzen Dale by e-mail or phone +47 909 68 284.

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important driver of productivity and efficiency in organisations around the world. It can help businesses automate routine tasks, predict future trends and help make better decisions.

Smart Innovation Norway, together with the Circular Packaging Cluster, has launched the MOMAI project to help companies in the packaging value chain adopt data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Through the project, companies can gain general skills and understanding of the possibilities for using AI, identify challenges and opportunities in their businesses. They can also be introduced to technology companies that develop solutions for each company's needs.

AI and data: The key to industry's challenges?

The European Commission has presented a comprehensive proposal for a new Packaging Regulation with requirements and provisions on waste, reuse and recycling. The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste, increase the quality and use of recycled raw materials in packaging, and set requirements for increased use of reuse solutions.

But how can this be done while satisfying product quality needs and customer requirements for functionality? Some of the solutions are likely to lie in data analytics and automated intelligent systems.

Data management is the first step towards circular development

Artificial intelligence can, among other things, make material use more efficient by ensuring that good decisions are made for a more circular flow of resources, help customise packaging and optimise logistics and distribution.

But building such systems depends on having access to good quality data.

Looking for forward-looking businesses

The Circular Pacaging Cluster and Smart Innovation Norway believe that companies in the packaging industry can gain significant business benefits from adopting data analytics and artificial intelligence. We are now looking for forward-looking companies that want to identify their potential to become more data-driven.

For more information and to fill in the contact form, visit the project website!

MOMAI (Mobilisation and Maturation for AI) is partly funded by Viken County Council.