5 Booming Industries in Greater Bergen

Firms in Norway will continue cultivating sustainable, cutting-edge innovation projects. These schemes will contribute to crafting new, green, and carbon-neutral industries.

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Greater Bergen has always been crucial for these endeavours. As a hub for many of Norway’s key ocean industries – petroleum, offshore energy, seafood and shipping, Greater Bergen offers a number of vital assets. These include a sizeable offshore and subsea knowledge base, a highly skilled labour force, a collaborative ecosystem of public and private sector organisations and a well-developed industrial infrastructure.

“One advantage Greater Bergen has is its long history as a hub for many Norwegian industries,” said Tone Hartvedt, Invest in Bergen’s Director. “The Bergen region has a wealth of material and human resources that will contribute to this green shift”.

Blue Hydrogen

Building off of Norway’s petroleum sector, hydrogen will contribute to the country’s long-term energy transition. Blue hydrogen – hydrogen extracted from natural gas with captured and stored carbon as a by-product – will likely be a key focus.

Earlier this year, the Norwegian government issued a joint declaration with the German government to increase cooperation towards further developing their respective green industries. To this end, Equinor and German firm RWE signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) aimed at cultivating a large-scale hydrogen value chain. This will include producing and exporting blue hydrogen from Norway to Germany. Moreover, it will lay the foundation for this emerging industry.

“Greater Bergen has competencies and facilities that can contribute to a hydrogen economy,” said Vidar Totland, Invest in Bergen’s Senior Project Manager. “This will involve building upon the abundant supply of natural gas in strategic industrial parks with the necessary infrastructure and workforce, as well as cooperating with the Northern Lights project to take care of the resulting CO₂”.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

As the potential for blue hydrogen production grows, so too will the need to capture and store its carbon by-product. Hence, the need for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Greater Bergen is uniquely positioned to contribute tremendously to CCS as an emerging industry.

CCB Energy Park has been chosen as part of the Northern Lights project. It will serve as a reception & processing site for large CO₂ quantities before final storage. Additionally, the cluster of companies located there is working to drive “climate-friendly” industries.

Aquaculture

As food security continues to be a top priority worldwide, aquaculture will become key in ensuring sustainable food supplies. However, the industry’s carbon footprint will also need to be addressed going forward.

What makes Greater Bergen’s aquaculture industry remarkable is its willingness to embrace new approaches, digital solutions and practices.

Among these have been:

• increasing digitalisation and digital transformation for data sharing and standardisation
• efforts to improve fish health and welfare to reduce fish mortality and minimise loss
• working to fully realise the potential of new, future feed ingredients
• working to actively stimulate circular and cross-sector business models

Greater Bergen’s network of public and private sector firms will continue in their collaborative efforts to ensure food security and create a greener aquaculture industry.

“Digitalisation is essential for further development within the seafood industry. Bergen is home to many progressive companies and advanced techniques,” said Hartvedt. “This is where all the action happens”.

Offshore wind

Last year, Hywind Tampen – Equinor’s floating offshore wind project - began power production for the Gullfaks A platform in the North Sea. Along with meeting part of the energy needs for the Gullfaks and Snorre fields, the project is expected to drastically reduce its annual CO₂ emissions.

Since Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II were opened for offshore wind projects, efforts have been made to grow this emerging industry. Recognising this potential, the Norwegian government aims to allocate areas suitable for developing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040.

Companies in Greater Bergen are now preparing to play a major role in this emerging industry, thanks to the region’s foundation in the petroleum sector. In addition to the transferable knowledge base, the region offers industrial parks with crucial infrastructure. A prime example is Sløvåg Industrial Park – the assembly site for Hywind Tampen’s floating wind turbines.

In addition to the network of public sector organisations and private firms, the Bergen Offshore Wind Centre (BOW) drives several key research projects relevant to the industry. Coordinating the University of Bergen’s offshore wind activities, BOW works to contribute practical knowledge and educate future specialists.

Low-emission maritime solutions

Greater Bergen has always been essential for Norway’s shipping industry. It houses Norway’s largest fleet and its largest concentration of shipping firms and organisations.  

The region will be critical for evolving Norway’s shipping industry. Much like the rest of the country, Greater Bergen is already a frontrunner in developing batteries for its ferry fleet. Moreover, it will serve as a sandbox for developing and testing new innovations – alternative fuels, propulsion systems and prototype vessels. The region already has a number of key projects researching hydrogen, ammonia, and hybrid solutions.  

Additionally, the industry will work to craft a new generation of skilled labour for the evolving shipping industry.

“Many of the region’s shipping firms agree that decarbonisation is the future of the industry,” commented Totland. “I believe Greater Bergen will be the centre of a whole new industry for clean shipping”.

Moving forward

Decarbonisation and sustainability will be key objectives as Norway carries on with the green shift. With all its assets at its disposal, Greater Bergen will further evolve into a nexus for these new industries.

“These assets and experiences are transferable and will contribute to the new generation of green Norwegian industries,” concluded Hartvedt.

Are you interested in setting up a new company in the Greater Bergen region? If so, you could receive crucial support from Invest in Bergen.

Our organisation can provide information, and introductions to useful contacts, and even help find your ideal business location in Greater Bergen. If you’re interested in these services, simply get in touch with us today.