Renewable energy

Renewable Energy – for a better environment and increased value creation

The potential for utilization of renewable energy, using known technology and within feasible costs, is huge, both in Norway and in the world in general. The general motivations for exploiting more renewable energy in Norway can be devided into three:

Industrial development
Norway can play an important role in the development of new technologies for renewable energy. An example is the strong deveolpment that has been observed within the industry of silicon solar cells. This development has made Norway one of the main producers of silicon and silicon wafers for solar cells, and has been based on the substancial competence that already existed in Norway from the aluminium and material industry. Also in other fields a strong environment has been built, which in turn can be utilized to generate new, konwledge-based industry.

Energy supply
Norway holds a strong positon regarding production of electrical energy from renewable sources. On a short term, the potential for increased production from wind, hydro and bio is estimated to 60TWh per year. Energy savings can also, on a short term, give reductions of approximately 10TWh per year. This compares to a yearly consumption of electrical energy of approximately 120TWh. Norway has a slight overproduction of electrical energy at the time (2008), and exports electricity to the continent. However, the potential is great for increased exportation, and Norway might also help to even out fluctuations in the European production due to the large resources of flexible hydropower. The Norwegian government has set strong goals for increasing the utilization of renewable energy. To acheive these goals, a strong effort on technology developent and education is needed.

Environment and climate
The climate crisis may be solved only by dramatically reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Norway wants to become a leader in sustainable energy development, by production of clean energy and development of new and clean technologies for energy production and use.

More information
SFFE’s R&D-strategy for renewable energy in Norway
Energy & Petroleum – Resources & Environment, one of NTNUs strategic areas
renewable.no has a lot of information on renewable energy.

Kontaktpersoner
Professor Johan Hustad, NTNU
Researcher Ann-Mari Svensson, SINTEF Materials and Chemistery
Researcher Per Finden, IFE