HJØRRING: - Green transition is change, says Jesper Horne, who is the director of Sindal Biogas and explains what it also means to him personally:
- I have always lived in Hirtshals and Hjørring Municipality, but it would be 34 years before I could come home and work.
In 1988, Jesper Horne was trained as a machinist in Frederikshavn, and this was the start of a long career in the oil and gas industry. As an offshore manager, he has been both out in the world and in the Danish part of the North Sea as a platform manager on the Gorm fields and both Tyra Øst and Vest. In addition, he has worked on oil production ships, a so-called FPSO ship, which stands for Floating Production Storage and Offloading. It was on Global Producer III and Gryphon for Mærsk Oil UK, and further away from home, Jesper Horne was also the manager of Al Shaheen location B off Qatar.
Jesper Horne does not see it as a coincidence that he was only able to return home to North Jutland and work in his industry two years ago at the age of 56.
- At that time, there were no jobs here in the energy industry. There are plenty of those jobs here now.
"Production is moving from Esbjerg"
Jesper Horne also sees the larger societal perspective, which is completely in line with the green transition and Denmark's climate goals.
- 40 percent of Denmark's gas consumption today comes from biogas, and the goal for 2030 is that we must cover Denmark's gas needs 100 percent. in 2030. This requires building more biogas plants, says Jesper Horne, explaining the side effect:
- Then production moves from Esbjerg to rural areas. At the same time, a large number of good jobs also move to rural areas. I'm thinking of blacksmiths, plumbers, electricians, automation people, mechanics in addition to consultants and engineers.
The differences
There are a number of significant differences between the oil and gas industry and biogas production, which are particularly obvious to the biogas director because of his experience.
- The biggest difference is that we don't have the same earnings. This means that we have to find the right solutions the first time, explains Jesper Horne.
The biogas industry has also gone through a development from agricultural companies to something larger.
- It is a pioneering industry that has gone from being a farm plant to being industrial biogas production now. This again means that there are not many companies that have the great expertise. This is not the case in the oil and gas industry, where there are companies and consultants, explains Jesper Horne.
He is also used to the high and necessary safety standards from his old industry; that is also different here.
- There are much fewer hazardous substances here, and everything has a lower safety profile, even if it is gas, he says.
Production volume
Gas production from biogas today covers around 40 percent of Denmark's gas consumption, and Sindal Biogas currently produces around 30 million. cubic meters of gas, and there will be more in the future. Yet Jesper Horne remembers one thing in yet another comparison.
- In a year we produce what we did in peak production in the old Tyra in 24 hours, says Jesper Horne, who has a nuanced view of both types of energy:
- Energy is the key to prosperity and life. Therefore, the key to the climate goals is not decommissioning but development. More science education is needed for engineers and researchers.
On a personal level, the change has also meant a lot.
- I used to joke that I have a bigger network in Esbjerg than here. But now it's also becoming good here, because I can network and do leisure activities. And it's also nice to come home every day, says Jesper Horne.
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