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ENERGIX-Stort program energi

Improved development and management of energy and water resources

Awarded: NOK 10.4 mill.

CEDREN EcoManage was finalized in the last part of 2016. The PhD work was finalized with its defence on the 24th of November 2016. The PhD degree was officially approved the same day. The title of the PhD was "An improved framework for the assessment of water consumption from hydropower production", while the trial lecture title was "Norwegian hydropower as blue-green battery - a concept applicable to the rest of the world?". In 2016 the EcoManage work mainly consisted of the PhD work, publication of peer-review papers and the finalization of the EcoManage Policy Brief summarizing the findings of the project and giving recommendations to relevant stakeholders. The Policy Briefs is available for downloading at the CEDREN web pages. Results from the project are published in more than 10 international peer-review journals, reports, briefs and technical summaries. In addition, 10 master degrees has been finalized in relation to the project. A feature article "Demninger er helt nødvendige" was published in major Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten. Several of the EcoManage topics (i.e. water consumption and ecosystem services) are being pursued in other projects at SINTEF, NINA and NTNU.

Climate change and the needed reductions in the use of fossil fuels call for the development of renewable energy sources. To ensure the optimum use of natural resources and minimise the environmental footprint, environmental indicators can be applied to a llow comparison across energy production categories. EcoManage's main objective is to test, evaluate and adapt new concepts and indicators for the improved development and management of energy and water resources. Secondary objectives are to: 1. Develop a consistent framework for the calculation of Energy Payback Ratio-values (EPR) for different electricity generation technologies which allows for reliable comparisons and benchmarking between technologies. Furthermore, to apply the developed methodology to a number of Norwegian hydropower plants and benchmark with international studies. 2. Develop a methodology for the assessment of water consumption in hydropower plants, allowing comparison with other electricity production technologies, and carry out pilot studies. 3. Demonstrate the applicability of the Ecosystem Services in identifying the full social costs of hydropower development and designing instruments to internalize these costs. Evaluate biodiversity off-sets in local, regional and internati onal setting using integrated habitat equivalency and multi-criteria analysis methods. 4. Assess the applicability of the indicators/concepts and provide recommendations to the industry and the authorities on the further use of the tools. The project wi ll be carried out by extensive use of test-cases in regulated rivers. Coupled with the adaption and application of highly sophisticated research methods as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) the suitability of these co ncepts will be demonstrated. The project will produce at least 10 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and a number conference presentations, technical reports and policy-briefs.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

ENERGIX-Stort program energi

Thematic Areas and Topics

Politikk- og forvaltningsområderOlje og gass - Politikk og forvaltningDelportefølje Forskning og innovasjon (forskning på)Anvendt forskningFornyelse og innovasjon i offentlig sektorGrunnforskningDelportefølje KvalitetDelportefølje InternasjonaliseringInternasjonaliseringInternasjonaliseringInternasjonalt prosjektsamarbeidInnovasjon i offentlig sektor (utgår 2014)Forskning og innovasjonFornyelse og innovasjon i offentlig sektorForskning og innovasjonPortefølje Banebrytende forskningPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderMiljø, klima og naturforvaltningGlobale utfordringerInnovasjon i offentlig sektor (utgår 2014)Brukeres, frivillige organisasjoners og sivilsamfunnets innovasjoner i og fDelportefølje Et velfungerende forskningssystemBransjer og næringerLTP3 Miljøvennlig energi og lavutslippsløsningerLTP3 Fagmiljøer og talenterInnovasjon i offentlig sektor (utgår 2014)Klimarelevant forskningLTP3 Styrket konkurransekraft og innovasjonsevneLTP3 Høy kvalitet og tilgjengelighetLTP3 Et kunnskapsintensivt næringsliv i hele landetLTP3 Klima, miljø og energiPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderBransjer og næringerEnergi - NæringsområdeLTP3 Innovasjon i stat og kommuneTjenesterettet FoUEnergiNaturmangfold og miljøBærekraftig energiEnergiFornybar energi, vannNaturmangfold og miljøMiljøteknologiMiljøteknologiPortefølje Energi og transportMiljøteknologiAnnen miljøteknologiPortefølje ForskningssystemetNaturmangfold og miljøPortefølje InnovasjonPolitikk- og forvaltningsområderEnergi - Politikk og forvaltning