Nordic Energy Research

NordGrid is a research, development, and demonstration program focusing on smart electricity transmission.

The future offers many challenges for the Nordic electricity systems – the share of unstable production is increasing, the cost level increases, lack of public support for new infrastructure, and an increasing risk of cyber attacks.

These challenges are known in all Nordic countries, and in many cases the challenges can only be overcome with common policies, routines and control systems.

By addressing the challenges at a Nordic level synergies can be achieved and common solutions increase the opportunities for:

• a more tightly integrated infrastructures with power exchange capacity
• a common marketplace for energy and energy related services
• a complementary production structure of the Nordic countries (hydro with storage, wind, nuclear, combined heat and power from biomass and possibly gas with CO2 capture and storage)
• exchange and strengthening the competencies and capacities at the Nordic universities and research institutions.

Increased digitization will have a positive effect on the synergies.

A joint Nordic co-operation to develop the electricity infrastructure of the future will reduce the overall research and investment costs.

“A long Nordic tradition of co-operation on the development and operation of infrastructure and markets is based on common challenges and solutions, but also on a high level of trust and openness, which creates a good foundation for efficient co-operation, when the Nordic countries create common solutions for the transmission of electricity,” says Klaus Skytte, CEO at Nordic Energy Research.

Nordic Energy Research and Nordic financiers are funding the Nordic Energy Outlooks – Nordic energy system research Program (NEOs) to create a forum for collaboration between different groups and institutions researching Nordic energy systems.

The Programme will add Nordic and national value by facilitating synthesis of current national research results and benchmarking these on a regional level. Due to the degree of interconnectedness, some topics, – e.g. electricity markets – are best analyzed at a regional level.

Bringing together national research group with specific knowledge of sub-sectors in the field to investigate similar research questions would give additional insights into how methodology, models and assumptions influence results.

The aim of Nordic Energy Outlooks – The Nordic Energy System Research Program (NEOs) is to:

“Strengthen Nordic research competencies and collaboration between different groups and institutions researching Nordic energy systems by building on existing national research programs”.

Sustainable Energy Systems 2050 is the seventh edition of Nordic Energy Research’s main research funding programme, spanning from 2011 to 2015. The aim of the programme has been to develop new knowledge and solutions that support the region’s transition to a sustainable energy system in the years leading to 2050.

“While decarbonizing electricity is still a central challenge for much of the world, the Nordic case offers insight into how a clean electricity system can be achieved and how it can facilitate decarbonization of other sectors.” – SES 2050 Report

The aim of the programme is to develop new knowledge and solutions, supporting the transition to a sustainable energy system in 2050.

As individual countries, the five Nordic countries are too small to have a significant influence on . However, together they form the 10^th largest economy in the world and comprise more than 25 million people. By working together within research, industry and policy making, the countries can provide Nordic Added Value. But what is Nordic Added Value? This of course may depend on the eye of the beholder. Through 8 cases the magazine Nordic Added Value from Nordic Energy Research highlights and showcases the need for collaboration to make an impact!

This report was written with the aim to compile information on wood resources in the ENERWOODS-project countries, i.e. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia, with a focus on availability for energy purposes. ENERWOODS, or wood based energy systems from Nordic forests, is a joint Nordic and Baltic project financed by Nordic Energy Research. The aim is to review and provide scientific results to strengthen the role of Nordic forestry in feeding biomass into cost-effective and renewable energy systems.

According to the International Energy Agency’s and Nordic Energy Research’s joint publication, Nordic Energy Technology Perspectives 2013, Nordic cooperation will play an important role in meeting energy and climate targets for 2050. From 12–13 June 2013, 50 leading experts gathered at the Nordic Energy Way Arena in Copenhagen to discuss how Nordic collaboration may help pave the way for a carbon neutral future.

NOTE: You can also read about the 2016 NETP report and download a copy here.

The programme for Sustainable Energy Systems 2050 is the latest edition of Nordic Energy Research’s main 4-year research programme, and the thematic focus for Nordic Energy Research during 2011-2014. The aim of the programme is to develop Nordic added value through knowledge and solutions for a future sustainable energy system.