26. September 2013
Multiconsult has already obtained many important projects in solar energy. This includes the solar power plant at the Fornebu centre and the solution for the solar cell system in the Powerhouse One building in Trondheim. Multiconsult has also project engineered and conducted pilot studies of solar farms both within and outside of Norway. Bjørn Thorud, Senior Consultant for Solar Energy in Multiconsult has been tasked with developing a specialist environment for solar energy. Multiconsult has also project engineered and conducted pilot studies of solar farms both within and outside of Norway. Bjørn Thorud, Senior Consultant for Solar Energy in Multiconsult has been tasked with developing a specialist environment for solar energy.
-Solar electricity and solar heating are likely to become the standard of future building solutions. The trend is clear the world over and it is now starting to take off in Norway. We are experiencing a revolution within renewable energy in which smart grid is also an important factor. Multiconsult wants to be a step ahead, says Thorud.
Currently the Multiconsult team consists of specialists either with international experience or who have received training as part of master’s assignments supervised by Multiconsult. The team covers all necessary specialist environments.
Enormous potential for solar energy
Among other things, Multiconsult can offer design, project engineering and system solution proposals as well as technologies for solar energy systems. The Company also offers assessment of local solar energy resources and surfaces suitable for solar energy.
-We can offer comprehensive packages for solar energy systems as part of which we can also prepare tender documents and contracts if desired by the customer. We can also carry out technical inspections and due diligence. The potential for the use of solar energy is massive. A solar farm covering four per cent of Norway’s surface area would produce an energy volume corresponding to the total annual Norwegian export of oil and gas, says Thorud.
Aiming to increase industry knowledge
Thorud is one of Norway’s top experts within solar energy and has held a number of talks and training sessions on the subject. As a member of Glava Energy Center, Multiconsult also gains access to experience concerning the operation of solar cell systems in Nordic conditions as well as the research and testing conducted by the centre with regard to renewable energy technologies and smart grid. Multiconsult has also been represented at Energi21’s investment group for solar energy. Energi21 is the national strategy for research, development and commercialisation of new, climate-friendly energy technologies.
“There is still a basic lack of expertise on the utilisation of solar energy in Norway. Awareness is necessary, both within the industry and among the public. The Norwegian market for solar energy remains very small and immature and for this reason Norwegian prices can be up to 60 per cent higher than those in neighbouring countries.