How well do solar cells really work in the Nordic climate?

Experiments in SINTEF’s climate lab demonstrate that solar cells work very effectively in Norway in spite of the rain and cold. But there is one thing that owners should be aware of if they want to get the most from the sun’s energy.

Researchers are helping elite skiers to hone their performance

Norwegian cross-country skiing is applying science to analyse how its elite athletes exploit their strengths during training and competition. The aims of this sensor-based research are to give skiers valuable advice about training and help them find the perfect pair of skis.

A life-changing headset

A headset and a little electronics might be all it takes to enable nine-year-old Sharleen, who has hearing difficulties, to get an education and a life free of poverty. She is now getting help from Norwegian researchers.

Revealing the geology’s X-factor

This ten-tonne test rig has been custom-designed by Norwegian researchers and built under contract by American engineers. It has finally been installed at SINTEF after eight years of planning and construction. This mammoth of a device, nicknamed the “Polyax Rocker” is now set to re-create with ultra-high precision the geological stresses acting on oil reservoirs.

Many mistakes made on Customer Journeys

“Customer journeys” have become a popular method to increase customer focus and improve service quality in many branches of industry. But research shows that the method doesn’t always work as expected – and confusion surrounds the meaning of the concept itself.

Destination Brussels – with climate facts in his luggage

SINTEF’s climate change ambassador Nils Røkke is on his way to Brussels looking forward to a new job and new assignments. He has been appointed as Chair of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA). This in a world in which the threats posed by climate change are increasingly being portrayed as “fake news”.

Fuel of the future

Heavy-duty trucks will soon be driving around in Trondheim, Norway, fuelled by hydrogen created with solar power, and emitting only pure water vapour as “exhaust”. Not only will hydrogen technology revolutionize road transport, it will also enable ships and trains to run emission-free.

An energy-efficient cleaning robot

State-of-the-art solar cells are efficient – but are even more so when they are kept clean. A cleaning robot developed by Norwegian researchers enables solar panels to deliver at full capacity.

Cooled patients are treated differently

What is the best form of first aid for a cold, injured body? Mountain medicine researchers are now co-operating to find the answer. At present there is actually no “best practice” for treating this type of patients.

BLOG

Are biofuels environmentally sound?

The Norwegian government has just agreed that the fraction of biofuels in petrol and diesel is to be raised from 5.5 to 7 percent next year. Within 2020, this fraction should be up to 20 percent. However, can biofuels be considered as a good environmental action?

Microscopic sensor for more precise radiology treatments

A team of Norwegian, French and Australian researchers is the first in the world to succeed in quantifying the effects of radiation on individual cancer cells. This means that radiation therapies can now be tailored to individual tumours and thus be more effective.

Using EV tyres to counter traffic noise

Research shows that fitting tyres with very low rolling resistance, combined with the right road surfacing, can provide just as much noise reduction as traditional noise barriers.

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Want to end “ghost fishing”

Fish nets that float abandoned in the ocean continue to catch fish long after they have been lost, posing a major environmental challenge. Degradable fishing nets can be part of the solution according to researchers.

Norwegian company to separate oil and gas on the seabed

In simply raising water up to the deck and transporting chemicals down into a well, platforms on the Norwegian shelf use as much electrical energy as a large Norwegian town. A recently-established company has a more environmentally-friendly that may save millions of kroner.

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Prize for e-messaging research

The introduction of e-messaging by the Norwegian municipalities has made communication between health visitors, doctors and hospitals much easier.

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SINTEF wins design award

For the sixth time, product designers Ole Petter Næsgaard and Tore Christian B. Storholmen have received the Award for Design Excellence by the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture.