Turning Wave Energy Innovation into
an Industrial Project

What does it take to turn a promising energy technology into a credible industrial project? Using Concrest Energy’s wave power concept as a real-world case, this TechThursday explores how the right capabilities, industrial partners and funding strategy can move a validated concept towards pilot demonstration and commercial deployment.The session is also relevant for companies developing other complex energy technologies. Participants are invited to explore potential partnerships, discuss their own project ideas and learn how collaborative projects and European funding can support the next stage of development.

At this TechThursday, Concrest Energy will present itsutility-scale wave energy converter, development ambition, business potential and the complementary capabilities required for the next stages of its journey.

Innovayt will provide a practical perspective on how an industrial development challenge can be structured into project phases, partner roles and relevant financing routes. Energy Valley will moderate a discussion on the capabilities, partnerships and next steps needed to move promising energy technologies closer to demonstration and market.

08:15 – Welcome and introduction
Energy Valley frames the industrial challenge and the intended outcome.

08:20 – From Proven Concept to Utility – Scale Wave Power by Leif Arne Tønnessen, Concrest Energy.
Development ambition, business potential and the need for complementary industrial and technical capabilities.

08:35 – From industrial challenge to structured project by Luis Lima, Innovayt.
Innovayt shares perspectives on development stages, partner architecture and possible financing routes.

08:47 – Moderated discussion by Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley.

Which capabilities and partnerships are needed, and where could there be potential for concrete follow-up?

08:58 – Next steps and call to action

09:00–09:30 – Optional dialogue
An informal follow-up discussion for participants with relevant capabilities, solutions or project ideas.

The session is particularly relevant for companies and organisations working with:

• Offshore and maritime industry
• Subsea industry
• Offshore Wind Industry
• Energy utilities (power generation, grid operation, energy supply)
• Off-grid power consuming industries in offshore or coastal areas (aquaculture, datacentres, desalination plants, etc.
• Collaborative projects and European funding

Concrest Energy building consortium:

Short term complementary capabilities required for next stage of technical maturation are in particular:

• Physical model testing in wave pool
• Advanced numerical modelling (coupled hydrodynamic and PTO model)
• Subsea and maritime engineering
• Advisory (operators, users, fabricators, installers)

The session will be held at a non-confidential level. Participants may register their interest in a possible follow-up dialogue, but participation does not constitute admission to a project or consortium.

Join us to explore how industrial capabilities, partnerships and financing can help move emerging energy technologies from validation towards deployment and market.

About the session

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving – but how is it actually creating value in the energy sector today?

Following a strategy workshop with leading industry actors on March 11, Energy Valley is now entering the next phase of the AI Energy Cluster initiative.

In this webinar, we bring together key voices from across the energy and technology landscape to:

• share perspectives on where AI is delivering real value
• discuss barriers to scaling AI in practice
• identify priority areas for joint industry collaboration
  
  

Why join?

This session is part of an ongoing strategy process – and your input will directly influence how the AI Energy Cluster is shaped going forward.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• contribute perspectives during the session
• provide input through a short follow-up survey
• engage in potential future collaboration
  
  

Speakers

• Rebecca Gabrielle Hile, Equinor
• Robert Nyiredy, Siemens
• Christian Markussen, DNV
• Gefei Lu, Technip FMC
  
  

Moderator: Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley

Format

• Short introduction and context
• Moderated panel discussion
• Audience input and Q&A
• Optional extended discussion (09:00–09:30)

Next steps

Insights from the webinar will be used as input to a proposed strategy for AI Energy Cluster, to be discussed and aligned with key stakeholders on April 30.

This event is hosted by Arena H2Cluster.

Tuesday 16 December | 08:00–09:00
 (+ optional bonus discussion 09:00–09:30)
 Digital webinar hosted by Energy Valley, featuring Arena H2Cluster and BalticSeaH₂

Welcome to join us at TechThursday #10, where we explore the current status and emerging opportunities for hydrogen across Norway and the wider BalticSeaH₂ region—an ambitious cross-border initiative spanning 9 countries.


Hydrogen is moving from vision to implementation. But where is real progress happening? Which projects are advancing, and which parts of the hydrogen value chain are starting to function in practice? And how can Norway position itself within a rapidly developing regional ecosystem?
Join us for a focused morning session featuring leading voices from the BalticSeaH₂ Project and H2Cluster.

Program Highlights

Welcome

Vibeke Østlyngen, CEO of Energy Valley

Presentation: BalticSeaH₂ – Status, Progress & Regional Hydrogen Vision

Susanna Kupiainen, CLIC Innovation
(BalticSeaH₂ Project) and Fransesco Reda

Presentation: Hydrogen in Norway – Projects, Market Signals & Emerging Value Chains

Bielenis Villanueva Triana, H2Cluster

Panel Discussion & Q&A

Moderator: Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley

Theme: Is the hydrogen economy moving? Concrete projects, momentum, and functioning value chains across Norway and the 9-country BalticSeaH₂ region.

Panelists:

• Susanna Kupiainen, BalticSeaH₂
• Bielenis Villanueva Triana, H2Cluster
• Francesco Reda, VTT
  

Closing Remarks

Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley

Optional Bonus Discussion (09:00–09:30)

For participants who wish to continue the conversation and dive deeper into collaboration opportunities.

Energy Valley invites you to a focused and practical webinar on funding opportunities through the EU Innovation Fund (EUIF) – one of the world’s largest financing programs for energy and climate projects.
 
The webinar is particularly relevant for companies considering investments or development in energy, industry, hydrogen, carbon reduction, technology development, and major innovation projects.
 
This webinar is Part 1 of a two-step series, with Part 2 being a half-day workshop featuring a deep dive into criteria, project ideas, and assessment of application potential.

Program – 10 December

08:15–08:20

Welcome and Introduction
 Knut Linnerud, EU Advisor, Energy Valley

08:20–08:30

Innovation Fund – the Norwegian Perspective

• Enova’s role in relation to the Innovation Fund
• Key priorities and relevance for Norwegian actors
• What companies should understand early in the process
   Speaker: Ingunn Syrstad, Enova

08:30–08:40

Innovation Fund – Opportunities and Insights for Applicants

• Overview of upcoming calls
• What characterises strong applications
• Common pitfalls and typical weaknesses
   Speakers: Rui Silva or Daniel Gomes, Innovayt

08:40–08:55

Panel Discussion & Q&A
 Moderated by Knut Linnerud

Panelists:

• Ingunn Syrstad, Enova
• Rui Silva / Daniel Gomes, Innovayt
• Erlend P. Aamot, Managing Partner, REspire AS – Innovation Fund Financial Expert & Evaluator

Topics include:

• GHG methodology: early-phase challenges and best practices
• Financial maturity: what evaluators actually look for
  
  
• Do’s & don’ts for Norwegian applicants
• How companies should prepare for 2025 calls

08:55–09:00

Next Steps – January Workshop
 Knut Linnerud

Registration information

Deep dive into evaluation criteria

Financial viability & GHG methodology

Project idea clinic

Detailed agenda will be shared in January.
To reserve your spot for part 2, please register here:
https://online2.superoffice.com/Cust8299/CS/scripts/customer.fcgi?action=formFrame&formId=F-bKP2uXgS
 

Artificial intelligence is opening an ocean of opportunities for the energy sector. While some companies are already exploring pilots and early use cases, the full potential is still largely unknown – and enormous. At the same time, Norway holds a unique advantage: within a relatively small geography, we bring together the full energy ecosystem – from production and infrastructure to technology, academia, finance, and government.

The AI Energy Cluster aims to harness this advantage and turn it into concrete collaboration, innovation, and international positioning. Join us on Friday, September 12, 08:15–09:00 (with optional bonus discussion until 09:30) for a webinar that combines strategic insights with a glimpse into the cluster’s action plan, budget, and expected impacts – provided we secure funding from Innovation Norway.

Panel Conversation – the highlight of the morning

Representatives from four leading companies and our new CEO will discuss why the energy sector needs a dedicated AI initiative, and what kind of collaborative projects could emerge when we join forces:

Panelists:

• Robert Nyirede (Infinigrid)
• Erling Aanerud (Green Digital)
• Patrick Couch (Hewlett Packard Enterprise)
• Vibeke Østlyngen (Energy Valley)

Program

• 08:15–08:20 | Welcome and introduction (Energy Valley)
• 08:20–08:40 | Panel Conversation: The AI Energy Frontier: Where Norway Can Lead
  – Why does the energy sector need its own AI focus?
  – What collaborative projects can emerge across industry, academia, and technology?
  – How can AI strengthen efficiency, sustainability, and security at the same time?
• 08:40–08:50 | Presentation of Action Plan, Budget & Expected Impacts (conditional on Innovation Norway funding)
• 08:50–08:55 | Q&A and closing
• 09:00–09:30 | Optional bonus discussion

Why attend?

• Learn how AI Energy Cluster can create real value for members – through collaboration, scaling, and international positioning
• Gain insight into the action plan, funding model, and membership benefits
• Join a conversation on how Norway can use its unique energy ecosystem to lead internationally in AI and energy

The webinar is open to everyone who has expressed interest in joining the AI Energy Cluster, as well as new potential participants eager to explore opportunities.

Register in the link above

How do we move from successful AI pilots and proof-of-concepts to scalable, long-term implementation in industrial operations? This webinar provides insight into how technology companies, academia, and industrial leaders work together to overcome the challenges of scaling, organizational development, and data infrastructure.

This session follows up on the AI Energy Cluster event at Kongsberg Agenda and focuses on what it truly takes to move from experimentation to operational impact.

Agenda

08:15–08:18 – Welcome and Introduction
Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley

08:18–08:40 – Introductory Presentations by Panelists:

• Thordur Arnasson, VP, Capgemini Invent
   The Scaling Problem – Making AI Operational at Industrial Scale
• Olaf Hallan Graven, Professor, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN)
   Human Knowledge in the Age of AI – Supporting Work at the Frontline and in Administration
• Peter Jenkins, CEO, 4Subsea
    From Pilot to Production – Real-World Implementation of AI for Critical Decision Support
• Caspar M. Lund, Director of AI, Sopra Steria
   AI and Organizational Readiness – Building for Long-Term Value
  
  

08:40–08:57 – Panel Discussion:
 “What Does It Take to Scale AI – Technically, Organizationally, and Humanly?”
 Moderator: Knut Linnerud, Energy Valley

08:57–09:00 – Wrap-Up and Invitation to Bonus Session
 Knut Linnerud

09:00–09:30 – Bonus Session: Extended Panel Q&A and Open Dialogue (Optional)
 Moderator: Knut Linnerud

Register today – and join the conversation on how to unlock real industrial value with AI!

Subsea – A Strategic Industrial Stronghold in Transition

The Eastern Norway region has long been home to world-leading subsea engineering environments – forming the foundation for what was originally established as Subsea Valley. In 2019, the cluster was renamed Energy Valley to reflect a broader commitment to the energy transition and a stronger emphasis on renewable technologies.

Still, a majority of Energy Valley’s 100+ members remain strongly anchored in subsea – particularly in the oil and gas sector. Over time, many have expanded their focus to support offshore wind, subsea cables and pipelines, carbon storage, and seabed minerals.

This TechThursday explores how subsea technology and innovation continue to evolve – not just as legacy infrastructure, but as a key enabler for the future energy system.

Agenda

08:00–08:05 | Welcome and Introduction
By Energy Valley
 – From Subsea Valley to Energy Valley
 – Subsea expertise as a foundation for innovation, export, and cross-sector growth
 – Broader applications: oil & gas, offshore wind, subsea infrastructure, minerals

08:05–08:45 | Expert Presentations (5–6 minutes each)
Moderator: Energy Valley

Init, Espen Trengereid, COO
Topic: Modular Subsea Control and Power – Scalable Building Blocks for the Seabed
→ Compact subsea drives and autonomous, high-integrity safety systems based on COTS components and standardized architecture4Subsea

Aker Solutions, Egil Birkemoe, VP for Business Development Subsea Power
Topic: Subsea technologies for offshore wind and other renewables
 → Scaling full-field systems with focus on efficiency and flexibility

Kongsberg Maritime, Rubem Prandi, Technical Sales Manager
Topic: K-SEM: Enabling Subsea Digitalization
→ Driving Innovation, Supporting Emerging Technologies, and Unlocking Operational Efficiency

Equinor, Erik Frimanslund, Senior manager (leder Subsea products & technology i Global Operations Technology i EPN)
Topic: Operator Perspective: What Will the Subsea Supplier of the Future Look Like?
 → Field needs, innovation expectations, and the role of collaboration

ABB, Asmund Maeland, Group Senior Vice President
Topic: Subsea Solutions for Floating Offshore Wind
→ Power distribution, protection, and automation for the next generation of offshore renewable systems

08:45–09:00 | Joint Q&A and Wrap-Up
 – Moderator-led Q&A
 – Reflections on key trends and opportunities for subsea in the energy transition

09:00–09:30 | Bonus Session: Extended Q&A and Discussion
 – Optional participation
 – Open floor for audience questions, dialogue and company-specific follow-ups

AI Energy Cluster – Hva, hvorfor og hvordan?

Energy Valley inviterer til et kort og effektivt informasjonsmøte for å presentere søknaden om opptak i klyngeprogrammet NIC Connect med initiativet AI Energy Cluster – en nasjonal satsing for å styrke AI-kompetansen i energisektoren.

AI Energy Cluster samler ledende aktører fra energi, teknologi og forskning for å:

• koble industriens behov med AI-kompetanse
• akselerere utvikling av datadrevne løsninger for energiomstilling
• bygge en varig plattform for samarbeid og innovasjon

Agenda

Velkommen og formål – v/ Energy Valley (2 min)

Hva er AI Energy Cluster? – kort introduksjon til konseptet, ambisjoner og struktur (5 min)

Slik kan din virksomhet delta – og hva vi ber om nå (3 min)

Q&A og åpen dialog (15 min)