Abstract
Recent political and economic developments at national and global scales are challenging Norwegian investments and prioritizations towards low-emission technology research and development for the offshore oil and gas industry. Emissions linked to oil and gas exploration and production account for approximately 25% of Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions, and Norway is committed to significantly reducing these emissions while sustaining current energy production levels: for the Norwegian Continental shelf, targets have been set at 55% emissions reduction by 2030, towards 70-75% by 2035, and net zero emissions by 2050. This will require large investments in new technology and innovation, reviews of existing regulations, and significant efforts within research – all of which are influenced by evolving investment strategies, market fluctuations, and geopolitics. LowEmission is a Norwegian research center where industry, research institutes and academia collaborate for the development of low-emission technology for petroleum activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. From its establishment in 2019 to its conclusion in 2026, LowEmission will have operated through a series of major geopolitical and economic events affecting national and international strategies and investments towards emissions reductions in petroleum activities. In this paper we show how the LowEmission Research Center and similar institutions can support their objectives of emission reductions and sustainability for the green transition in offshore oil and gas, amid uncertainties and volatility in external conditions as exemplified by recent geopolitical developments, economic instability, and changing research policies. With basis in the organizational framework and fields of research constituting LowEmission, we consider such causes and effects by mapping the development of relevant low-emission technologies for application on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. We find that research momentum can be sustained through industry involvement, portfolio diversification, long-term funding mechanisms, and a focus on innovation.