Electrification is a key instrument in Equinor’s strategy to reduce emissions and strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian oil and gas. By replacing fossil energy sources with electricity, we are systematically cutting CO₂ emissions from our operations, while contributing to Europe’s energy security and creating long-term value for Norwegian society through continued production of oil and gas with low production-related emissions.
Hywind Tampen wind farm (on the horizon) powers the Gullfaks and Snorre fields. Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland
Electrification on the Norwegian continental shelf
Johan Sverdrup has some of the lowest CO₂ emissions of any oil field in the world
What is Equinor's track record within electrification?
Troll A was the first platform on the NCS to be electrified, back in 1996.
The Gjøa field was electrified right from the start in 2010. As the development operator, Equinor laid a 100-km long cable from Mongstad to the Gjøa field, which was the world’s longest alternating current cable at the time.
The Johan Sverdrup field is electrified by power from the mainland, contributing to the record-low emissions from production. Johan Sverdrup, which started producing in 2019, has CO₂ emissions of only 0.67 kilos per barrel compared to an average of around 9 kilos on the NCS and 15 kilos globally.
In 2018, Martin Linge was prepared for electrification by laying a 163 km cable from Kollsnes. Production from the Martin Linge field started in 2021.
In 2023, Gullfaks and Snorre were supplied with wind power from the Hywind Tampen pioneer project, the world's largest floating offshore wind farm.
Later, all platforms on Utsira High were connected to power from shore, including Gina Krog (2023), the Sleipner field centre and Gudrun (both in 2024).
The platforms Troll B and Troll C were partially electrified in 2024, and the goal is that Troll C will be fully electrified in 2027.
The electrification of the Utsira High
Approved projects in the execution phase
The Oseberg Gas Phase 2 and Power from Shore (OGP) project consists of partial electrification of the Oseberg Field Centre and Oseberg South, as well as installation of a new compressor module at the field centre. Norwegian authorities approved the project in 2022. Planned completion has been postponed from 2026 to the end of 2027 due to increased lead times for new transformers that were destroyed in a fire at Hitachi’s factory in Finland in 2023 and delays relating to increased complexity. The project will be able to reduce CO₂ emissions by 300,000 tonnes per year.
The platforms Troll B and Troll C were partially electrified in 2024, and the goal is that Troll C will be fully electrified in 2027.
In 2023, the authorities approved the Snøhvit Future project for future operation of Snøhvit and Hammerfest LNG, with some conditions. The approval involves land compression from 2029 and electrification of the plant from 2030. The project is estimated to save annual CO₂ emissions of 850,000 tonnes.
The project to electrify the OKEA-operated Draugen and Equinor-operated Njord platforms was approved by the authorities in 2023. The emission cuts are estimated at 180,000 and 120,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, respectively. Planned completion in 2027.
What remains?
Projects in the development phase
Grane area
Grane-Balder as a joint project has been decided discontinued by the partnerships due to insufficient profitability. The Grane licence has informed Statnett that the allocated grid reservation will not be used. The partners in the Grane licence are in dialogue on the further maturation of the Grane area.
Projects discontinued in 2025
In October 2025, Equinor informed the Ministry of Energy that we recommended the partnerships to discontinue the electrification efforts at the Halten and Snorre areas. The decision was based on a lack of profitability and high abatement costs in these projects, driven by general cost increases in the industry, as well as uncertainty around political support for the measures. Electrification remains an important tool, but must be balanced against economic sustainability and long-term value creation.
Partial electrification of installations in the Halten area, including grid connection, power cable from shore (Tømmervika, Abelvær), and modifications to the Equinor-operated platforms Heidrun, Åsgard B and Kristin. The project had a 135 MW capacity reservation from Statnett and a potential annual CO₂ emissions reduction of approximately 440,000 tonnes.
Partial electrification of Snorre A and B with power from shore. The project included grid connection, a power cable from shore (Djupavika, Svelgen) to Snorre A and further to Snorre B, as well as platform modifications. Previously referred to as the Tampen project, it also included Gullfaks. The project had a conditional 180 MW capacity in the power grid, later reduced to 90 MW after Gullfaks was removed from the scope. The potential emissions reduction was estimated at approximately 270,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Projects discontinued in 2026
Grane Balder Energy Project (GBEP): The partnerships decided to discontinue the joint project due to insufficient profitability. GBEP was planned as a joint power-from-shore solution to supply Grane (operated by Equinor) and the installations in the Balder area (Jotun FPSO and Ringhorne, operated by Vår Energi) with electricity from shore, while also enabling gas export from Grane. The concept included a grid connection at Gismarvik and a 120 MW reservation in the power grid, as well as a planned transformer station in the Haugalandet area and a power cable to the installations. The potential emissions reduction was estimated at around 365,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Impact on emission targets
Since 2015, Equinor has reduced its own emissions by more than 30 percent, primarily through energy efficiency measures and electrification. The projects we have completed and are currently executing are profitable, contributing to the competitiveness of oil and gas from the Norwegian continental shelf, extending the lifetime of our fields, and supporting jobs and ripple effects for decades to come.
The oil and gas industry is on track to reduce emissions from the Norwegian continental shelf by more than 40% (compared to 2005), in line with the ambition launched by the industry in 2020.
Equinor’s ambition is to reduce operated emissions from global operations by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2015), in line with our energy transition plan. We continuously assess measures to reduce emissions from our operations.