New Norway power plant uses salt to make electricity

TOFTE, Norway — Norway unveiled the world's first osmotic power plant on Tuesday, harnessing the energy-unleashing encounter of freshwater and seawater to make clean electricity. "While salt might not save the world alone, we believe osmotic power will be an important part of the global energy portfolio," the head of state-owned power group Statkraft, Baard Mikkelsen, told reporters. Statkraft, which claims to be the biggest renewable energy company in Europe, is running the osmotic power plant prototype in a former chlorine factory on the banks of the Oslo fjord, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the Norwegian capital. Osmotic energy is based on the widespread natural phenomenon of osmosis, which allows trees to drink through their leaves and plays on the different concentration levels of liquids. When freshwater and seawater meet on either side of a membrane -- a thin layer that retains salt but lets water pass -- freshwater is drawn towards the seawater side. The flow puts pressure on the seawater side, and that pressure can be used to drive a turbine, producing electricity. 

Thee point of osmotic power is "to use power not against nature but with nature," summed up Sverre Gotaas, in charge of innovation and growth at Statkraft. Contrary to other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, osmotic power produces a stable electricity flow regardless of weather conditions. Osmosis has been used by industry to desalinate seawater, but Statskraft's prototype at Tofte marks the first time it has been used to produce energy. Inaugurated Tuesday by Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, the plant will for now produce just enough electricity to power a coffee-maker. But it could prove to be a great potential clean, environmentally friendly power source. "It has very, very limited environmental consequences. 

It's only positive and it can be used in many places," Frederic Hauge of environmental organisation Bellona told AFP, adding the development of osmotic power was "very exciting". Because they produce energy from the encounter of freshwater and seawater, osmotic power plants could be installed almost anywhere where rivers flow into the ocean. "Even countries that do not have oil, coal or mountains will be able to produce their own energy," Rasmus Hansson, the head of the World Wildlife Fund in Norway told AFP. "It is very nice when industry imitates nature," he added, lauding the decision by Statkraft and various Norwegian organisations to invest around 150 million kroner (17.9 million euros, 26.8 million dollars) of their own money in a "revolutionary technology." According to advocates of the technology, an osmotic energy plant could be constructed near a water source, with an office building or shopping centre built on top. "We could imagine a plant in the basement of a shopping centre, instead of a parking garage," Gotaas said. The worldwide potential of osmotic energy is estimated at 1,700 terrawatt hours (TWh) per year, equivalent to half of the European Union's energy production. But before osmotic energy can be profitable, a more energy-efficient membrane will need to be developed -- a process that is being keenly watched by NASA which could use the technology for its space stations. The most efficient membranes currently produce three watts per square metre, while a commercially viable one must produce five watts. "This is possible, we believe in these figures," Gotaas said. Statkraft hopes to start building the first commercial osmotic power plant, which would have a 25 megawatt capacity, enough to provide about 10,000 households with electricity, in 2015. Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i75rDBtv8u5BRFShNijTpvIEXLPQ

Norway searches for gingerbread town vandals

Bergen’s traditional Christmas decoration – a gingerbread village – has been crushed, literally, by vandals who covered the crumbled ruins with paint and foam from a fire extinguisher. Local police have appealed to the public to help them sniff out any cookie-scented criminals after the 650-house town was toppled inside its massive tent in the city centre. 

“The people who did this must be full of gingerbread dust, they will smell a long way,” said police inspector Erik Sveaas. Norway News reports that residents of the picturesque North Sea city were shocked by the doughy destruction, with the efforts of hundreds of children who decorate the gingerbread, reduced to rubble. However, the festive exhibit will open sometime next week after running repairs to the tiny township according to Steinar Kristoffersen from the Bergen Sentrum, the foundation that runs “the world’s largest and greatest gingerbread town”. 

Kristoffersen lamented the actions of the vandals but added that the local community were rallying around the confectionary crisis. “We are rebuilding the whole landscape and are receiving a lot of gingerbread houses. Many want to lend a hand,” he told reporters. The biscuit breakers had faced calls for public pillory in an online campaign in which some sought retribution for the loutish display. In an attempt to quell rising public sentiment, local Bishop Halvor Nordhaug attempted to calm protestors through the local media. “We must not lynch anyone over a few gingerbread houses,” the Bishop stated. Source: icenews.is

Struggle ahead for Norway offshore fleet

OSLO) Norway's offshore shipping will struggle over the next two years because of a lack of financing and project delays, according to Elisabeth Grieg, president of the Norwegian Shipowners' Association.



Line management: Oil producers such as Statoil ASA, Norway's largest, have cut investments and delayed projects after crude prices plunged last year
The industry has 'started to feel the crisis much more now than maybe they did this spring', Ms Grieg, 50, said. 'The outlook for the offshore industry is more uncertain for 2010 and 2011.'

Norway has the world's second-largest offshore fleet with 465 vessels that service oil and gas platforms at home, in Brazil, West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico and Australia. The industry represents about 55 per cent of the association's more than 160 members, which also includes owners of oil tankers, bulk transport and containerships for cross-ocean routes.

Oil producers such as Statoil ASA, Norway's largest, have cut investments and delayed projects after crude prices plunged last year. Industry spending may fall 8.5 per cent to 118 billion kroner (S$29.2 billion) next year and decline 11 per cent in 2011, according to the Norwegian Oil Industry Association. Brent crude, which rose to more than US$147 a barrel in July 2008, traded at US$79.35 a barrel as at 7am in London.

'We see that 40 per cent of the order book along the coast hasn't been financed yet,' Ms Grieg said, referring to offshore ships at Norwegian yards. 'There are no newbuilding projects at Norwegian shipyards after 2011 and, of course, with the volatile oil price, fewer projects have been started.'

About 10,000 people work in the Norwegian shipyard industry and many more in supporting businesses. Norway, the world's sixth-largest oil exporter and second-largest gas exporter, relies on the petroleum industry for about 25 per cent of its economic output. The country's oil production has been in decline since 2001 as fields in the North Sea age.

Members of the association include Seadrill Ltd, the offshore driller founded by billionaire John Fredriksen, Subsea 7 Inc and Wilh Wilhelmsen ASA, a Norwegian investor in vehicle shipping companies. Ms Grieg, part of the fourth generation at the family controlled Grieg Group, is the first female president in the association's 100-year history.

The group's other big constituency, transcontinental carriers, may start seeing a recovery next year, Ms Grieg said. The industry will be helped by demand for raw materials such as iron ore, coal and soyabeans from China and India as well more willingness to lend by banks, she said.

The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of shipping costs for commodities, has jumped more than fivefold since the start of the year, after plunging 91 per cent in 2008. The index tracking costs on international routes shed 87 points, or 2.2 per cent, to 3,887 points on Nov 30, according to the Baltic Exchange.

'I guess we'll see more of a soft landing for 2010 than we had anticipated just a few months ago,' said Ms Grieg. About 90 per cent of the world's trade is transported by ship, of which 5 per cent is controlled by Norwegian vessels.

China's manufacturing grew last month at the fastest pace in five years, a survey yesterday showed, helping Asia to lead the recovery from the global economic slump.

The industry may also be helped as the number of new ships coming on the market is less than anticipated. Shipowners have cancelled new ships or asked for delays as shrinking global trade and lower rates caused losses. -- Bloomberg


Source: businesstimes.com.sg

CATHEDRAL, THE DEVIL'S BLOOD Confirmed For Norway's HOLE IN THE SKY - Dec. 4, 2009

CATHEDRAL, THE DEVIL'S BLOOD and DEAD CONGREGATION have been confirmed for next year's edition of the Hole In The Sky festival (a.k.a. Bergen Metal Fest XI), set to take place August 25-28 in Bergen, Norway. Tickets go on sale today (Friday, December 4). A limited number of four-day passes will only be available until December 24. Hole in the Sky was founded in memory of Erik "Grim" Brødreskift (IMMORTAL, GORGOROTH, BORKNAGAR). Source: roadrunnerrecords.com/

Cisco raises price to buy Norway's Tandberg

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cisco Systems Inc. on Monday raised its cash offer for Norwegian videoconferencing company Tandberg ASA to about 3.4 billion U.S. dollars. Cisco announced that it is now offering to purchase all the outstanding shares of Tandberg for 170 Norwegian Kroner per share, which is said to be the networking giant's "final price" for the transaction. 

Accordingg to Cisco, the acceptance period is also extended to Dec. 1 this year. Cisco will "withdraw the offer and evaluate alternative ways to expand our activities in the video communications market" if it doesn't achieve the desired level of acceptances representing 90 percent shares, the company said in a statement. On Oct. 1, Cisco initially offered to buy Tandberg for 153.5 Norwegian Kroner per share or about 3 billion dollars in total. The deal was backed by Tandberg's board but has received opposition from some minority shareholders who said the offer price is too low. As a result of the revised offer, the transaction has already gathered acceptances representing more than 40 percent of Tandberg's outstanding shares, Cisco said. 

Tandbergg, a market share leader in the videoconferencing industry, has more than 1,500 employees worldwide with dual headquarters in Norway's Oslo and New York, the United States. Source: xinhuanet.com/

A1 represent Norway at Eurovision?

Reunited boyband A1 are bidding to represent Norway in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. The Brit award-winning pop act are favourites to represent Norway, who host this year's show after Alexander Rybak's Fairytale stormed to victory earlier this year. 

A11 have always had a Nordic connection through band member Christian Ingebrigtsen who was born in the Norweigan capital Oslo. The boys acheived chart success in 2000 with two No 1s Take On Me and Same Old Brand New You. 

Theyy announced their comeback last month with the launch of their latest single Take You Home. The band will take part in the Melodi Grand Prix in February 2010, the national finals to the Eurovision Song Contest, where they will find out if their bid for Euro glory was successful. Sourc: virginmedia.com/