Norwegian seafood industry faces unattainable climate goals without major overhaul, report finds.
The Norwegian seafood sector will be unable to meet its 2040 climate goals due to inadequate infrastructure for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, according to a report by research institute Sintef.
The findings highlight significant barriers to electrifying the industry, which relies heavily on diesel for vessels, fish farms, and processing plants.
The report projects that the industry’s electricity demand will rise from the current 2.1 TWh to at least 7.5 TWh by 2040 to align with climate targets. However, Norway’s power grid is not equipped to handle this increased demand. Lengthy lead times for expanding grid capacity exacerbate the problem, leaving seafood producers unable to comply with mandates to reduce emissions.
“The pressure on the seafood industry to transition to renewable energy is immense, but it’s simply impossible to meet these demands without the necessary infrastructure and energy production in place,” said Hans Tobias Slette, a researcher at Sintef and project leader of the EnerSea study.
Competition for Renewable Energy Intensifies
Access to renewable energy is critical for decarbonizing the sector, yet many seafood businesses are struggling to secure sufficient electricity due to competing demands from other industries. The electrification of ferries, electric vehicles, offshore oil and gas platforms, and other energy-intensive sectors has absorbed much of the available grid capacity in coastal regions.
“This competition for electricity is hindering the seafood industry’s participation in the green transition,” said Slette. Projects such as closed containment fish farms and electrified service vessels are being delayed or canceled due to insufficient grid access, he added.
Economic and Environmental Costs
The report estimates that delays in grid connectivity lead to societal losses, including forgone value creation and prolonged emissions. The annual cost of deferred CO₂ cuts is pegged at NOK 12–13 million ($1.08–$1.17 million/€1.02–€1.11 million). Lost revenue from postponed projects ranges from NOK 15–20 million ($1.35–$1.8 million/€1.27–€1.7 million) annually for processing plants to up to NOK 25 million ($2.25 million/€2.13 million) for typical fish farming facilities.
While alternative energy sources are being explored, the report finds no viable commercial substitutes for diesel in the short term. Slette suggested interim measures such as conditional grid connections and coordinated resource-sharing among industry players to maximize the underutilized capacity in the existing grid.
“Transforming the seafood industry to renewable energy will require substantial investment, cross-sector collaboration, and regulatory reforms to prioritize sectors based on societal value,” Slette said. However, he cautioned that meaningful progress could take more than a decade.
Broader Implications
The seafood industry is one of Norway’s key economic drivers, yet it remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Currently, only 44% of fish farms are connected to onshore electricity, and 99% of energy used by aquaculture vessels comes from diesel. Meeting the government’s climate targets—55% emission cuts by 2030 and 90–95% by 2050—will require transformative changes across the industry.
The EnerSea project, funded by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) with NOK 5 million ($450,000/€425,000), underscores the need for accelerated grid expansion and alternative energy solutions to enable the industry’s green transition.
“This knowledge base is essential for achieving the dual goals of increased value creation from the coast and oceans and meeting climate targets,” said Øyvind Hilmarsen, FHF’s head of research.
The full report is available on FHF’s website.
