The oil and gas industry – a key to a successful, sustainable transition in Norway? Barriers and challenges to knowledge transfer to offshore wind and aquaculture

Abstract This paper examines the transition of Norway’s oil and gas sector towards low carbon intensive industries, focusing on offshore wind and aquaculture. Using a multi-method approach that combines stakeholder interviews with a review of governmental white papers from 1971 to 2023, the study identifies key barriers and opportunities in knowledge transfer and industrial diversification. The findings highlight the importance of long term policy direction and coordinated involvement in facilitating sustainable industrial transitions. The study contributes to the literature on sustainability transitions by providing practical insights based on the Norwegian experience with such transitions. Our findings emphasise the value of contextualising contemporary sustainable industrial restructuring, with historical experiences of similar large-scale processes of change offering a more nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in sustainable industrial development.