THE EUROPEAN ENERGY CAPITAL

The Stavanger region is Norway’s third largest region with 360,000 inhabitants. The region has a long tradition of harvesting from its energy resources: first with a long history related to hydroelectric power production and since the end of the 1960’s the oil and gas industry. Over the last few years, companies and projects within wind, sun and bioenergy have emerged.

Oil & Gas

The majority of the operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf have their Norwegian or North Sea headquarters located in the Stavanger region, e.g. the national energy company Equinor. Governmental organizations such as Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, and the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway are located in Stavanger, as well as the employer’s association Norwegian Oil ad Gas.

This cluster of industry players has resulted in one of the strongest energy clusters in the world. The Norwegian Continental Shelf is a challenging petroleum exploration and production arena; hence it has often become an international testing ground for new technology.

Norwegian Energy Solutions is an energy cluster with an overarching purpose of leading the energy transition to low emissions by developing renewable and sustainable energy solutions and improving existing solutions. The clusters’ members include major industry players such as Equinor, Shell, National Oilwell, Baker Hughes, Aibel, Aker Solutions and more.

Every second year, the city also welcomes the global energy industry to one of the world’s leading energy meeting places, ONS – Offshore Northern Seas.

Renewable Energy

The Stavanger region has naturally excellent prerequisites for production and harvesting of hydroelectric power and generates 10% of Norway’s annual production. Norway’s first commercial offshore wind farms will be located off the regional coastline. In addition, bio methane is produced from waste, and contributes to greener gas in the regional gas infrastructure.

Offshore wind is an emerging sector, and the Stavanger region has a role in developing a floating offshore wind supply chain. The Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster has been formed with a basis in South West Norway. Companies like Equinor, Aker Solutions and Kvaerner, are in the forefront of the cluster. The companies work together by sharing knowledge, technology, and facilitating business opportunities.

The region has the capacity for energy consuming data centres like Green Mountain and interconnectors with the purpose of supplying other North Sea markets with sustainable energy.

Other highlights:

• The region has one of Europe’s best high-speed digital infrastructures for businesses and private homes.
• Port Stavanger is one of the few ports in the world enabled for LNG fuelling ships. Access to renewable power enables the port to offer larger ships to connect to electricity.
• Stavanger is proud to be participating in several projects funded by Europe’s largest research and innovation programme, e.g. New European Bauhaus, Airmour, and AI4Cities.
• The region is also home to several recognized business and industry clusters: Norwegian Smart Care Cluster for welfare technology, Nordic Edge Cluster for smart city innovation, VIA Cluster for safe transport infrastructure, and Stiim Aqua Cluster Technology for aquaculture.
• The city also hosts the annual leading Smart City event in the Nordics, Nordic Edge Expo.
• Stavanger was named the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Capital of the year (2019) and nearly 40% of all new cars sold in the region are now electric.

 

Links:

Stavanger Business Region

City of Stavanger

University of Stavanger

Offshore Northern Seas (ONS)