The world’s need for a clean energy future is creating a unique challenge for politicians, industries and the public at large. DNV’s in-depth experience of renewable energies has shown that a number of mitigating efforts need to be decided upon and implemented. To reach this new paradigm as soon as possible, the risks involved must be understood and managed.

The world is experiencing growing environmental concern and increasing acknowledgement of the threat of climate change. This has led both industry and the authorities to act faster than ever, and renewable energy has been assigned an important role in reducing CO2 emissions and the need for fossil fuels.
Significant investments in renewable energies will continue at a rate that depends on the price of competing energy sources, global warming threats and available incentive schemes. Hydropower, bio-fuels, heat generation from bio-mass and wind energy are the most promising alternative energy sources. The next generation of nuclear power plants is also being considered. Acknowledging that fossil fuels are needed to meet the world’s energy demand, carbon capture and storage from coal- and gas-fired plants is another important tool for a cleaner energy future. The key to success is a united global effort, including governmental policies, financing mechanisms and technological innovation. Energy-reduction measures will also be key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions relating to energy production, industrial and private consumption and transportation.

Risk management speeds up the climate battle
The development of renewable or low-emission energy projects is associated with significant risks which may lead to long decision-making times or a lack of decisions. It is also a known fact that most of the climate change efforts are suffering from a lack of maturity in terms of technology, economy, industry frame conditions, infrastructure and common acceptance criteria. Despite this extremely complex reality, important and long-term decisions must be taken now and on an uncertain basis. The question is how to make intelligent choices for the time ahead and how to manage the opportunities and risks? This is what DNV’s competencies support.

The application of methods such as DNV’s systematic risk assessments and technology qualification will help to prevent costly mistakes and ensure transparent and efficient decision-making processes. This is also achieved through the certification of components, power plants and energy systems, documenting that agreed requirements have been met and that the systems will continue to operate with sufficient safety and reliability.

Cooperation projects
Due to our risk management approach, global independence and in-depth expertise, DNV has been an important player in a number of renewable energy and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects. These involve both industries and the authorities in the US, Norway, UK, EU and China. For example, the North Sea Basin Task Force will reveal how and where carbon can be stored under the North Sea, and Aker Kvaerner is being helped to ensure that its new CCS technology actually works as intended. DNV also has a major share of the wind turbine certification market and performs risk assessments of wind energy projects in a number of countries.

Also, DNV is recognised as the leading globally operating independent greenhouse-gas verifier, and was the first company to be accredited by the UN to verify all major Clean Development Mechanism projects.

Looking ahead, DNV will continue to assist the global renewable energy and CCS market with its services, and will increase its focus to mirror the market’s introduction of new cleaner technologies. The aim is to grow tenfold by 2012, with a corresponding increase in market impact and new services, technologies and methodologies. The main focus areas will be wind, CCS, nuclear, hydro, wave and tidal power. Energy efficiency, clean coal and alternate fuel are also predicted to be major areas of opportunity in the future.