NTVA Technology  Forum 2008

Aim of the Seminar

The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) published its four climate reports
in 2007, and it seems that the world accepts that human activity constitutes a substantial
contribution to climate change. Even though there is still some uncertainty regarding the
climatic prognoses, we must face up to the consequences and reduce our greenhouse
gas emissions. It is inevitable that there are some choices to be made to achieve this.
We can reduce energy consumption or we can develop new energy without greenhouse
gas emissions. The choice of energy system will among other factors be dependent on
price, supply regularity, environmental requirements, resources and public opinion.
How do we wish to cover our power demands in 2030, and how will technological
developments influence this?

Based on the world’s power demands as they appear today and are likely to be in the future,
we will ask the experts to focus on the energy systems that have great potential for
improvements regarding reduced environment impacts and price. We want to consider
scenarios in a 30-year perspective. Such scenarios will also be useful regarding the
development of strategies for energy research in Norway. 

We will also ask for an evaluation of external non-technical limitations which can influence
developments such as politics, environmental considerations and public opinion. When
alternative energy systems are debated, various systems are usually contrasted based
on today’s technology. However, we must become better to analyse the possibilities in the
technological development potential of energy systems. We must help people to understand
the fact that technological development is a time-consuming effort.

The Seminar Report should be a useful contribution to the debate on energy systems
for both specialists and the general public. It will also be a useful background document
to help determine the  priorities for energy policies and energy research in the future.

Arne Bjørlykke, Professor, NGU,
Chairman of Programme Committee