The objective of the centre is to develop and disseminate effective design solutions for renewable energy production that take adequate account of environmental and societal issues, both locally and globally.
The centre will refine and adapt the environmental impact analysis methodology originally developed and implemented for hydropower. These methods will be transferred to other forms of renewable energy production – initially to onshore wind power and power lines, and later to offshore wind power, bioenergy and solar energy.
Although renewable energy from water, wind, sunshine and bioresources will be critical in achieving Norway’s targeted greenhouse gas reductions, production may entail some negative local effects on the ecology and society, which may trigger public resistance and conflict. Gaining acceptance for the comprehensive expansion of renewable energy production will therefore require solutions that minimise any negative social and ecological impact. At the same time, this expansion must be financially sound and feature technically stable systems. This will call for a coordinated and integrated effort involving a large number of scientific disciplines.
The main challenge of the initial phase is to determine how to adapt and convert the current system of hydropower to new operations that utilise large quantities of non-regulatable power production from wind, both onshore and offshore. Hydropower will be able to provide the necessary output reserve and serve as a stabilising source, but this must be accomplished without unacceptable strain on the environment.
The centre will place priority on effectively disseminating research findings to various national and international users.
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
SINTEF
