A Norwegian Rotary-delegation, led by the hydropower expert Kjell Opheim, is on an exchange visit to Queensland and the Northern Territory, with a special focus on the energy field. The delegation participants are members of different Rotary clubs within the Rotary International District 2250, Norway's largest energy district situated on the west coast. The trip is a return visit from a previous Australian visit to Norway in autumn 2007.
29/04/2008 ::
Group Study Exchange - Energy Field
The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvment of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The focus of this visit is within the energy field particularly. The visit is carried through in according to Rotary's fourth principle:
The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and proffessional persons, united in the ideal of service.
During their stay in Australia, the group will visit 13 host families, 17 Australian Rotary clubs, in addition to several energy facilities. They will also participate in the Rotary District Conference in Darwin on 3. and 4. May 2008.
Rotary in Norway
Rotary was established in Norway with the founding of Kristiania (Oslo) Rotary Club on 1. June 1922. Norway is divided into 7 Rotary districts with totally 338 clubs and appr. 13,700 members. H.M. King Harald V is the Norwegian districts Governor of Honour and holds Rotary's highest distinction, Paul Harris Fellow.
Norway's largest energy district
The Rotary International District 2250 is the largest energy producing district in Norway. Within this area, the largest hydroelectric power station in North Europe - Ulla Førre - is situated. Other major hydroelectric power installations, within this district, are the stations in Eidfjord, Aurland and Jostedalen.
Large oil and gas installations are situated off the coast of Norway, connected to onshore refineries and processing plants. In this district, electricity is also produced from renewable energy resources, such as wave power, solar energy and wind power.
Energy production in Norway
Norway is the fifth largest producer of hydropower in the world, Europe's second largest producer of oil and the fourth largest producer of natural gas. All petroleum production takes place offshore. Norway is currently the second largest producer of renewable energy in Europe.
Norway produces totally appr. 2,5 mill GWh, which is equivalent to 0,5 GWh per person. Appr. 1 mill GWh is produced by hydroelectric power, 1,4 mill GWh by oil and the rest from gas, coal and other resources. Norway exports 90% of all energy production.
Delegation members (Rotarians)
As above mentioned, the delegation is led by Kjell Opheim, head of projects at the energy company Stryn Energi AS. He has extensive work experience from hydroelectric power projects in Jostedalen, Eidfjord, Ulla-Førre and Breheimen. From 1981 to 1987 he was the head of the construction of the hydroelectric power station in Alta.
The other Rotarians have extensive competence within the energy field. Jan Mæland Tangen (38) is advisor, public affairs at the Kårstø processing plant. Bjarte Skeiseid (36) is analyst at StatoilHydro. Bjørn Hjertnes (28) is self-employed and a joint-owner of the consultant company Solvind. Marte Lie Vilkesen (26) works with Human Resource Management at StatoilHydro's office in Houston, Texas, USA.