In the upcoming newsletters, Nordic Energy Research will present the five participants selected by the assessment committee to continue in this year’s Nordic Energy Challenge.

The portrait series begins with Daniel Molin, who is 44 years old and holds a master’s degree in human geography from University of Oslo.

Nordic Energy Challenge has asked Daniel to talk about his idea.

What is your idea about?

My idea consists of two parts. The first part is a method that helps to think transport policy into the right time frame. The point is that if we do not understand the transport sector in scenarios that both have a sensible time perspective and include technological developments, it will be difficult to make good political decisions in the short and medium term. The second part of my idea is about connecting people who need to interact across the transport sector to make zero-emission solutions possible especially when it comes to heavy transport.
The point is that a changing sector needs new ways of interacting. If technology in a sector changes, we need to change the way we interact, but as we all know, changing is difficult.

How did you get the idea?

From my work. I am working with development of the transport sector and one day it crossed my mind whether heavy transport can learn something from the changes – that especially Norway, but also the rest of the Nordic countries have experienced in the demand for EVs (passenger cars) during the recent years. Right now, the overall topic of the transport sector is to make heavy transport more sustainable. This challenge made me think about how sustainable change in the transport sector can be made more efficiently.

How does your idea contribute to the Nordic region becoming CO2 neutral?

There are both great challenges and potentials to becoming a sustainable energy society. And the Nordics is well prepared to take the necessary steps. But the Nordic region is large and has a complex transport system on which we all depend.
If we are able at making heavy transport carbon neutral, then I think we are much closer to making all other sectors carbon neutral as well.

Why is an event as the Nordic Energy Challenge important?

I think the title says it all. To succeed in achieving the emissions target, it will require massive changes that are both challenging and demanding because we must think in new ways.
Accepting a challenge is in a way like leaving your comfort zone, pushing people to think a little harder. Another useful thing about the Nordic Energy Challenge is that such an event makes people explore ideas without any restrictions. I would like more people to think “what if” and thus get a clearer picture of how they want things to be.
If you have a good idea of ​​where you want to go, it will be easier for you to start the journey.