The transport sector is changing rapidly, driven in large part by technology. Technological developments are enabling the use of autonomous vehicles, drones and new customer platforms. Electrification will be an important tool in transforming transport sector sustainability, but hydrogen and various bio- and e-fuels can also play important roles.
Regulatory framework
By 2030, Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions will need to half relative to their 2005 level. The transport sector accounted for almost 30 per cent of the total Norwegian emissions in 2018. To reach the 2030 target, therefore, significant reductions in transport-sector emissions are needed. Achieving them will require a comprehensive restructuring of the means of transport and the infrastructure that currently supports it.
Achieving climate targets will require a variety of measures: electrification and energy efficiency, the increased use of biofuels and biogas, as well as the use of new fuels like hydrogen and ammonia. To realise the necessary changes to the system, targeted and relevant measures need to be developed that avoid unnecessarily costly reorganisation in both the transport and energy sector alike. It will, therefore, be important to understand how the electrification of transport affects the power market and grid, as well as how power prices and the design of network tariffs will affect electric transport.
Opportunities for business development
Today, Norway is a world leader in maritime transport and decarbonising the sector offers considerable opportunities for business development and economic growth. The electrification of road transport is already well-advanced and Norway has been a pioneer early in looking at the opportunities to electrify aviation. An important question is to what extent this head start can be leveraged to develop solutions that can be exported abroad.
Analysis
Recent examples of the issues covered by our transport sector work include:
- How new technology will change the future transport systems, including different energy solutions, autonomy, Intelligent Transport Systems, customised transport solutions and the possibilities for multimodal transport.
- Business models for e-mobility charging infrastructure supplying passenger cars, heavy transport, buses and ships. Including the possible use of ports as energy and transport hubs.
- Techno-economic analyses, including total cost of ownership for various low-carbon fuels and technologies (electricity, hydrogen, biogas, biofuels).
- The technological developments required by new sustainable transport solutions including consideration of the necessary drivetrains, infrastructure and supply chain.
- The market models needed to realise sustainable transport and mobility as existing value chains and business models change.
- The most appropriate policy instruments to use, in conjunction with the market models, to realise the right solutions for Norway.
- Connection of electric transport to the power grid – Processes, information requirements and the regulation of network operations.
- Who should own the charging infrastructure needed to service public transport contracts, given that the asset lifetimes and resale value are very different for that of busses, for example?
Expertise
Our professional background from the power and transport industries makes us well-suited to solving the relevant issues:
- A comprehensive understanding of the power system is critical to identifying good solutions for the electrification of transport.
- A good understanding of network companies’ role, regulatory framework and connection processes is particularly relevant.
- Our experience working on the analysis of business models and business development is applicable and relevant in the transport sector.
- We have developed a total cost of ownership model that allows us to compare the lifetime of alternative transport technologies.
