Energy and transportation
Our research in the field of energy spans several decades, and comprises both mobile energy (freight and passenger transport) and stationary energy use (e.g. heating). Three goals are an integral part of our research, namely reduction of local pollution, energy consumption and mitigation of carbon emissions. Key themes include preconditions for increased production of renewable energy, preconditions for reducing energy consumption, as well as rebound effects associated with energy efficiency measures.
We also carry out research on alternative fuels and technologies, i.e. societal preconditions and barriers for introducing new technology, as well as studying health and environment impacts. Some of this work has been documented in a database which displays figures for energy consumption and carbon emissions both for passenger and freight transportation and for various fuels. We have also examined drivers for energy consumption and related carbon emissions, both for individual forms of transportation and for entire systems of transportation.
Since 2011, Western Norway Research Institute has been a part of the Centre for Sustainable Energy Studies (CenSES), a national research with eight academic partners: Centre for Applied Research at NHH (SNF), Institute for Energy Technology, SINTEF, NHH, the University of Oslo, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), and NTNU. The main objective of CenSES is to strengthen the understanding of the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of the development and introduction of renewable energy and environmental technology.
