- "We have a short distance between major established industrial players on Haugalandet. This is a great advantage when it comes to meeting our social responsibility," says Tiril Fjeld, General Manager of Haugaland Næringspark.
Efficient and sustainable
On Wednesday, December 13, the first meeting of the industrial collaboration took place at Nordsjø Kontorpark. The meeting was attended by representatives from the various partners: Eramet, Hydro, Horizon Energy, Equinor, Gassco and Haugaland Næringspark.
Industrial Symbiosis Haugalandet is intended as a part of the industry's corporate social responsibility, working for increased circularity and better utilization of resources in the region.
- Establishing industrial symbioses will enable more efficient and sustainable operation of our plant at Kårstø. Among other things, we have waste that we currently pay to get rid of, which could potentially be a resource for others. This is about social responsibility," says Lisbet Kallevik, advisor for new value chains at Gassco.
Good access
It's about preserving and using resources that already exist for as long as possible. Industrial Symbiosis Haugalandet has been offered NOK 1.5 million in funding from Innovation Norway to optimize the use of surplus resources in Haugalandet. The partners are contributing a similar amount of their own resources, and the project is strengthening Haugalandet as a sustainable industrial hub in Norway.
- In addition to the short distances between us, we also have access to both renewable power and regulated industrial areas for new industry that can close any gaps in the value chain," says Tiril Fjeld, who thinks it's great to have started the collaboration project.
Crucial collaboration
The first phase of the project has a duration of one year, and the results of the project will have a great transfer value for increased industrial circularity in other regions - both in Norway and abroad.
According to the partners, strengthening industrial cooperation in Haugalandet will also improve the self-sufficiency of resources for use in local industry.
- Haugalandet is a strong industrial region and the partners in the project represent a wide range of players, which makes it particularly exciting to look at the opportunities for symbiosis here," says Kristina Letnes, Technical Manager at Eramet Norway Sauda.
Achieving climate goals is demanding in the first place, and you can get much further together than alone," agrees Haugalandet Industrial Symbiosis.
- "Yes, if we are to achieve our climate goals, we need to work together. Sharing resources is not only smart for profitability, but also for our climate footprint," says Hilde Sandvold Røsand, unit manager at Hydro Karmøy.
Utilization across
Through industrial collaboration, we will look at the interdisciplinary utilization there.
The partners are already conscious of their resource flows, but have so far largely focused on energy and production efficiency and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Now they want to explore a cross-cutting utilization of surplus resources.
- Through the handling of CO2 that will be transported from the terminal and stored permanently in the North Sea, we will have a surplus of cold that several players in the business park need in their processes," comments Runar Kristensen, Civil Project Manager at Horizon Energy.
It's about smarter use of resources," says Marianne Bryhni Asla, project manager for plant development and climate measures in Equinor.
- Everything is in place for industrial symbiosis on Haugalandet. Even though we will be one of the few regions with access to large amounts of renewable energy in the years to come, we must make sure to use the energy as efficiently as possible," she says.
Will create jobs
There are several advantages to the newly launched industrial collaboration. Through Industrial Symbiosis Haugalandet, the partners aim to create at least 50 new jobs locally within five years. This will be achieved through new industrial establishments in Haugaland Business Park participating in the symbiosis, as well as growth in the participating companies driven by resource collaboration, innovative production methods and innovative business models.