Norwegian hydropower considers itself strong on sustainability, but a study from the research center HydroCen shows significant variation in how the hydropower industry handles challenges related to environmental measures.

As human activity increasingly pressures ecosystems, biodiversity offsetting—balancing losses in one area with gains elsewhere—has become a growing tool for conservation, although with significant challenges. A new paper by NINA experts explores how integrating ecosystem accounting can enhance biodiversity offsetting, offering a promising approach to make conservation efforts more effective and transparent.

Researchers in the centre RenewHydro will collaborate to develop smart solutions. The goal is more environmentally friendly hydropower, to provide reliable power supply and to benefit society and life in the rivers.  

Roads, agriculture and micro power stations have been legally established in protected waterways throughout Norway. Now, on behalf of the national water resources and energy authority, NINA experts will map the magnitude of these developments and how much intact nature ​​we have left in our protected waterways.

NINA assesses status and implementation gaps of performance standards and no net loss commitments, in relation to energy sector developments in Norway.  

Where should future wind farms be located? NINA is developing a planning tool for wind farms where impacts on species richness and ecosystem services are mapped. Now we invite interested parties to participate.

Nature does the job for us, for free.  But, in the search for good measures to compensate for man-made greenhouse gas emissions, carbon emissions from disturbance or loss of biodiversity caused by these measures are often not included in the calculation.

The NorthWind research centre on wind energy launched its activities today with its first General Assembly.  

Researchers seek to use turbulent eddies in the river to safely guide salmon and eels past hydropower plants.