How will REPowerEU affect Norwegian competitiveness in the renewable energy sector?

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Commission presented the REPowerEU plan with the goal to reduce EU member states’ reliance on Russian oil and gas. The plan encompasses various measures, including the reduction of energy consumption, the exploration of alternative suppliers of gas and oil, and increased investment in renewable energy production. To facilitate the establishment of new energy infrastructure and systems required, the initiative incorporates financial and legal support. Amidst these developments, an important question arises: can REPowerEU foster the transition towards clean energy? Norway, with its favourable geographic characteristics and access to renewable energy sources, as well as strong competence clusters and research environments, is influenced by EU legislation through its membership in the European Economic Area. This thesis aims to explore the pathways for overcoming dependency on Russian natural gas as outlined in the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan. It investigates the potential impact of these actions on Norwegian competitiveness in the renewable energy sector, with a focus on strategic integration of hydropower, expanding wind power capacity, and the potential for green hydrogen production. How competitiveness is affected is assessed from both short-term and long-term perspectives, and further we delve into the potential for Norway to enhance its own competitiveness while also supporting Europe's transition to green energy

Klovlidelsers betydning, forebyggelse og behandling i malkekvaegsbesaetninger

The dairy cow needs an optimal environment and a good status of health to deliver what we expect from it in today's intensive farming. An arising problem is hoof disorders which over the last few decades has become a more and more increasing problem that every year costs dairy farmers millions of kroner. This subject is interesting as there today is no room for mistakes to slow the production down and hoof diseases are exactly an unattended fact that has not been given the needed thoughts and attention. This mainly because of lack of awareness and knowledge from the farmer. Apart from lameness and a general negative effect on the well-being of the cow, hoof diseases cause great economical losses in production due to decreases in milk and meat production, poor fertility and higher risk of mastitis caused by the difficulties in lying down and getting up. This costs the dairy farmer from 200-700 kr. pr cow/year. A lot of the disorders are sub clinical and are therefore not given the right treatment in time which is fatal. Only 3-8% of the cows in Swedish and Danish herds are treated for hoof diseases every year by the veterinary while it has shown to be a problem in up till 70% of the cows in the herds. The disorders we see are often laminitis which in a more server form causes sole lesions. It has been connected to wrong feeding with too little an amount of structure. Especially young cows are sensitive to the great pressure on their not fully developed bodies and sudden changes in the environment. Interdigital phlegmone or foul in the foot and heel horn erosion are primarily caused by the wet and aggressive environment surrounding the hoofs which often is seen in the free stall barns. Digital dermatitis is contagious and has spread from southern Europe and can now be found in 50% of the herds here in Scandinavia. Digital dermatitis spreads as bacteria. Lots of these disorders can be prevented by good and simple management and a lot can be avoided by keeping the environment dry and clean. Treatment often includes a solution containing 5-10% copper sulphate which leads to environmental problems. The Carematic treatment boxes with Hooffit liquid and The Kovex Foam Activator system are two interesting examples of weekly hoof treatment systems to control hoof diseases in the future.Malkekoen er et effektivt produktionsapparat, som der i dagens produktionssystemer kræves optimal ydelse fra hver dag. For at den skal kunne klare dette kræves, et godt miljø og en god sundheds status. Et stigende problem i danske og svenske malkekvægsbesætninger er klovlidelser, som hvert år koster landbruget store summer. Emnet er interessant, fordi der i dagens effektive system ikke er plads til stopklodser, og klovlidelser kan netop betegnes som en overset stopklods, der pga. manglende fokus fra landmandens og hans konsulenters side, ikke har fået den nødvendige opmærksomhed. Klovlidelser betyder dårligere økonomi i besætningen pga., at der opnås en lavere mælkeydelse end forventet, en ringere tilvækst samt en dårligere fungerende reproduktion. Alle besætninger har klovlidelser, nogle så mange, at de taber op imod 700 kr. pr ko pr år. Mange af klovlidelserne er subkliniske og opdages aldrig og behandles derfor ikke retmæssigt i tide med en forværring som følge. Kun 3-8% af køerne i svenske og danske besætninger behandles årligt for klovlidelser, mens det har vist sig at være et problem hos op til 70% af køerne i besætningerne. Laminitis, som i et senere stadie kan udvikle såleknusninger, er sat i forbindelse med forkert fodring med for lille andel struktur, specielt hos unge 1. og 2. gangs kælvere optræder dette problem. Klovbrandbylder og balleforrådnelser er primært miljøbetingede, og den våde og ammoniakholdige gødning på spalterne i løsdriftsstaldene har et stort ansvar i sammenhængen. Digital dermatitis har bredt sig fra syd Europa i løbet af få år tier, og har nu inficeret ca. halvdelen af besætningerne her hjemme. Denne lidelse er smitsom og spredes som bakterier i miljøet. Mange klovlidelser kan forebygges ved simpel god management fra driftslederens side, og mange kan undgås ved at give klovene et tørt og rent miljø. Praksis viser dog, at behandlinger er nødvendige i mange tilfælde. Behandlingen af klovlidelser sker i øjeblikket i stor udstrækning med ugentlige klov bade, som indeholder kobbersulfat. Landbruget leder på denne konto hvert år op til 117 kg kobber ud i miljøet efter behandling af 75 køer, og fremtidens accept af dette er tvivlsom. Nye metoder må derfor i brug. Carematic behandlingsboks med Hoof- fit liquid og Kovex Foam Activator er to gode eksempler på afløsere til fodbadene. Carematic er dyr i indkøb og kræver en ekstra boks installeret i stalden, mens Kovex er en billig og simpel løsning, der passer ind i mange nuværende systemer. Brugen af Carematic leder betydelig mindre mængder kobber ud i naturen sammenlignet med forbadene, mens Kovex kun bruger naturligt nedbrydelige syrer. Behandlinger med vand alene bliver udøvet i enkelte besætninger og viser resultater mod bedre klovhelse