Driven by the international climate commitments, the European electricity system is in large transition on its way to a cleaner energy production. The share of renewable energy is increasing in all European countries, but at the same time it becomes more challenging to keep the electric supply stable because renewable energy is weather dependent. Norway has large amounts of clean and controllable hydropower and can play an important role in balancing the European electricity supply. Norwegian hydropower can step in when there is electricity shortage in Europe, while hydropower reservoirs can be used for energy storage when there is electricity surplus. Norway’s energy supply will be increasingly influenced by the Europe energy transition, and for Norwegian policy makers, system operators and producers it is important to in this perspective it is address how Norwegian renewable energy resources and infrastructure may be affected by, benefit from, and contribute to, the ongoing European energy transition. 

The NorENS project will explore the likely directions of the European energy transition and by using advanced modelling tools to simulate the future development of the interconnected electricity systems of Norway and Europe. The project results will contribute to planning an efficient, profitable and robust electricity system infrastructure for Norway in light of the European energy transition. NorENS is managed by Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and includes researchers and analysts from Cicero and leading international experts. In addition, expertise from Statnett, NVE and Østfold Energi will contribute in the project. NorENS is interdisciplinary and will combine technical analysis and analysis of market and policy frameworks with advanced energy system modelling. The energy system modelling will couple the power, heat, gas and transportation sectors and will pay particular attention towards the economic, political and technological uncertainty in the ongoing energy transition.