10.08.2022
She remembers the great enthusiasm
Jorunn Brigtsen worked with business development and remembers the great enthusiasm that characterized both her colleagues at TCM and the many she met with the technology suppliers.
Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) has a 10-year anniversary in 2022. We celebrate ourselves with interviewing people who in various ways have had impact on the business in these years.
– Why did you apply for a job at TCM?
– I had long been interested in environmental issues and technologies and wanted to work with climate-reducing activities. When TotalEnergies in 2017 had become an owner of TCM, I had also taken further studies in environmental technology. As a result of vacancies in TCM being made available to us at TotalEnergies, I immediately applied for a position that was advertised in the business development department. Bjørn-Erik Haugan, who headed the department, met me for an interview at the airport at Torp. I was very happy when I received the offer.
– How was your first meeting with TCM?
– The agreement was that I would commute from Stavanger and stay at Mongstad for the first few weeks. I was well received from day one. One of the things that is unique about TCM is that even though the organizational model with secondees from owner companies involves rotation of the staff, people are cordial and inclusive. I got an introduction to the facilities to familiarize with projects and tasks. Then followed very interesting and educational years with stays both at Mongstad, at Gassnova and around the world.
– What was your most rewarding and interesting work at TCM?
– I was lucky to get the opportunity to work with many different technology suppliers who are incredibly dedicated to their projects. The aim was to facilitate possible testing of their technologies at TCM. What gave me most was to experience the great enthusiasm for something larger than us individually. I do not think I will get another job that gives me such a satisfaction.
– Are there projects or events you remember back with special joy?
– TCM’s decision to establish the site for emerging technologies, gave us a great boost. It was very satisfying to contribute to the signing of contracts for testing with suppliers of membranes and sorbents, such as MTR, TDA Research and InnoSepra. In addition, it was always a pleasure to receive visitors at Mongstad, where everyone contributes to the guests having a good experience.
– What do you think is most challenging about your work at TCM?
– We worked hard to enter the European market. The funding schemes for technology development in the EU were few during the time I worked at TCM. This is in contrast to the United States, which had more structured support schemes to mature the technologies. European test campaigns were made possible in the form of collaboration with various research-based project groups.
– When you look back on 10 years of business at TCM, what do people that worked at TCM or still are working there have particular reason to be most proud of?
– It is the continuous work and dedication to facilitate testing, and to get the best out of the center and every campaign. This effort is the foundation for TCM’s fantastic deliveries.
– What is your wish for TCM the next ten years?
– There are still many CO2 capture technologies in the world that are immature, and which undoubtedly have great potential. My wish is that TCM for many more years can contribute to develop the best and most cost-effective technologies for the various industries and applications that will be used to achieve the goal of net zero emissions.
Name: Jorunn Brigtsen
Age: 53
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Trondheim
Marital status: Partner, two children and four grandchildren
Affiliation with TCM: Key Account Manager and Test Development Manager in the Business Development Deparment 2017 – 2021, seconded from TotalEnergies. Member of the management team 2019 – 2021.
Present position: CCS Project Developer in TotalEnergies
– When you tell your friends and acquaintances about the business at TCM, what do you emphasize as most valuable?
– My short description is that TCM is the world’s largest center for the development of carbon capture technologies. Here, flue gas with a high CO2 concentration is captured from the chimney at the Mongstad refinery, which is used to test different CO2 capture methods. TCM contributes in reducing carbon capture costs and accelerate technologies to meet the climate challenge.