Norway’s government is looking more favourably towards provision of electrical power from shore for the Johan Sverdrup field and other developments in the Utsira High region.

After receiving an evaluation of the proposal from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the government is now suggesting a co-ordinated land-based power solution for Utsira High. The NPD considered several technical solutions for a single land-based power supply system from shore which is to serve Sverdrup, as well as the Gina Krog, Edvard Grieg and Ivar Aasen developments in the region in the Norwegian North Sea.

While the NPD considered that it was feasible to establish a plan to provide power from shore before 2022, the Directorate further concluded however that it would not be possible to establish a site plan for land-based power right from the start of production of the Sverdrup field without a “significant risk” that the first stage of the field would be delayed.

Now Norway’s oil and energy minister, Tord Lien, said the government will aim to get power from shore for Sverdrup from the start of production in 2019. “Like the Parliament, I am keen to avoid the first stage of Sverdrup being delayed,” Lien stated, adding, “The Government will return to the question of how fast a site plan shall be established [with] a parliamentary bill on Sverdrup development in spring 2015.”

He confirmed Sverdrup will be powered by electricity from shore from the start of production in 2019, and promised “early investments” will be made for a “range of solutions.”

Offshore