Kraftforskning

Kraftforskning refers to the systematic study and development of technologies and methods for the generation, conversion, transmission, distribution, storage, and use of electrical power. The field combines engineering, economics, and policy analysis to improve the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of energy systems. It covers generation technologies such as hydro, wind, solar, biomass and fossil-based plants with decarbonization options, as well as power electronics, transmission networks, grid operation, and energy storage. It also includes demand-side management, building and industrial energy efficiency, and the integration of high shares of renewable energy into electric grids.

Historically prominent in Norway due to the country’s extensive hydroelectric resources, kraftforskning has grown into an international, interdisciplinary field addressing climate change, energy security, and system optimization. Research is conducted at universities, research institutes, and in collaboration with industry, government agencies, and funding bodies. In Norway, actors such as universities (for example NTNU and the University of Oslo), national energy authorities, and companies like Statkraft participate in joint research programs and demonstration projects. The results typically inform grid planning, policy development, and the deployment of new technologies.

Key challenges include maintaining grid reliability amid variable renewable generation, advancing grid modernization and energy storage, ensuring cybersecurity, and designing markets and policies that incentivize clean energy adoption. Kraftforskning increasingly emphasizes system-level, integrated approaches—such as smart grids, demand response, and optimization across generation, transmission, and consumption—to support sustainable power systems.