Gemini Centre Global Impact

During Arendalsuka, NTNU’s Global South Initiative brought together experts and stakeholders for engaging discussions and knowledge sharing on the energy transition through its event, “Who Will Pay for the Energy Transition in the Global South?”

To address our greatest shared challenge, the energy transition must take place globally, not just in one part of the world. This was highlighted by Rolee Aranya, Director of NTNU’s Global South Initiative. An important aspect of this is determining how technology can play a greater role in development cooperation and aid policy, and what models should be used for technology collaboration.

Since 1976, NTNU has provided education to young engineers from countries in the Global South. NTNU’s new Global South Initiative builds on long-standing partnerships with institutions and organizations across the region, explained Monica Rolfsen, NTNU’s Pro-Rector for Outreach and Social Responsibility. Experience has shown that long-term collaboration is the single most important contribution NTNU can make to strengthen local expertise and value creation, which in turn generates jobs and develops local labor markets. Technology cooperation is not about giving away technology, but about building societies.

A concrete example is the partnership with Kathmandu University (KU) in Nepal in the field of hydropower, which today also includes hydrogen technologies. Biraj Singh Thapa, Associate Professor at KU, joined via video to share experiences from Nepal and discuss how collaboration with Norway has contributed to knowledge development. He emphasized that the partnership has been about much more than technology transfer. It has also focused on developing people, strengthening institutions, and fostering a research culture.

After many years of collaboration, one key challenge remains: strengthening the link between academia and industry. This is an area where Norway can play an important role through risk-sharing mechanisms and financial de-risking for businesses, emphasized Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug (NTNU). Such support is essential for creating local employment opportunities and enabling countries to move from aid dependency toward cooperation and self-reliance.

In the panel discussion, Per Kristian Sbertoli, Director of Public Relations at Norfund; Line Amlund Hagen, Managing Director of the International Centre for Hydropower; Dr. Amalie Østhassel, Chief Operating Officer at the Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA); and Kristine Holden from the Workers’ Youth League (AUF) discussed the opportunities and challenges associated with investing in oil and gas versus renewable energy, particularly on the African continent.

The discussion highlighted several important trade-offs related to resource availability, costs, risk levels, job creation potential, and project scale. Per Kristian argued that renewable energy presents enormous opportunities, while Amalie was more skeptical about the level of enthusiasm for renewable energy in countries with significant oil and gas resources.

The session concluded with a clear message: the energy transition requires more than technology and capital. It requires long-term partnerships, trust, cultural understanding, and a willingness to share risk. It also depends on diverse partnerships on both sides, supported by institution-building, strong organizational cultures, and long-term capacity development.