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Exploring Offshore Wind Development in Norway Through Heuristic Modelling
Get PDFGlobal warming continues to be a significant humanitarian concern and Norway is committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve this, Norway has set a target of developing 30 GW of offshore wind power on the Norwegian continental shelf, aiming to become a leading nation in offshore wind. Incorporating 30 GW of offshore wind power into the Norwegian power system necessitates substantial development of the power system due to the intermittent nature of wind power compared to the more stable hydropower generation.
This thesis investigates the deployment of offshore wind power in the Norwegian power system through heuristic scenario analysis. The study aims to determine the optimal configuration and necessary modifications to the Norwegian power systems for integrating the targeted 30 GW offshore wind power. The scenario analysis uses the open energy system model PyPSA-Eur to create an isolated model of the Nordic power system.
In the scenario analysis, optimal offshore wind deployment is examined for three fundamental power system parameters: Line expansion, generator capacity expansions, and electricity demand. The findings show that offshore wind DC is the preferred choice over offshore wind AC for Norway to achieve its target of 30 GW offshore wind power, in terms of cost optimisation, sufficient electricity generation, and fulfilment of the target. Furthermore, the scenario analysis shows that, with an anticipated 50% increase in electricity demand from current levels, the optimal transmission capacity expansion is 48.3%, a substantial increase from the current power grid system. The findings align with Statnett's system development plan, which includes substantial investments in grid infrastructure.
Furthermore, the results reveal that from a purely isolated perspective of the Norwegian power system decoupled from the rest of Europe, there is no significant incentive for Norway to develop offshore wind. On the contrary, the results indicate that onshore wind is more favourable. This highlights the interregional role of Norway in the development of offshore wind in the North Sea.
The model has several limitations that could be addressed in future research. First, sector coupling can be considered and electricity demand assumptions can be improved. Additionally, the scope can be extended to include the North Sea countries to accurately assess power flow and the potential of an interconnected network. In conclusion, the results show that with optimal capacity expansion and strategic development of offshore wind, Norway can achieve its target of 30 GW offshore wind capacity. This will allow Norway to meet its offshore wind ambition and advance toward climate neutrality, contributing to the broader European effort
Unity through agriculture? - Exploring the dynamics of intercommunity relationships and collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation in agriculture and food security in refugee-host communities in Adjumani, Northern Uganda
Get PDFThe ever-increasing levels of forced displacement driven by conflicts, environmental crises, and other socio-political factors, are disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income countries. Uganda, home to Africa's largest refugee population, has in the face of this employed progressive refugee policies and a settlement approach, characterised by land allocation, integrated service provision, and freedom of movement. In this context of coexistence between refugee- and host communities, both challenges and opportunities arise. This study explores how intercommunity relations, interaction, and collaboration within refugee-host communities in selected settlements in Adjumani district influence the exchange of knowledge and innovation in agricultural practices. In this endeavour, a qualitative research method in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation was employed. Furthermore, Social Practice Theory is applied as a theoretical framework guiding the exploration of changes in agricultural practices in refugee-host communities. The findings of this study suggest that through social networks, knowledge exchange and adoption of new practices is taking place between the groups. The findings further suggests that “arenas for interaction and collaboration”, which refers to arenas such as joint training programs, collaborative projects and saving groups, are important for the building of these social networks, and that these arenas are set in motion and facilitated by the Ugandan government’s refugee policies and settlement approach. Additionally, the study reveals breaches in land use agreements between hosts and refugees as a significant challenge that warrants closer examination and policy considerations
Fat Deposition in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Fed with Poultry By-Products
Get PDFThe purpose of this investigation was to fulfill the requirements for a master's degree in aquatic food production at the Faculty of Science and Technology at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). The funding for the experiment and subsequent analyses was provided by Aller Aqua Norway AS. The study was carried out over two academic semesters and was assigned a credit value of 60 ECTS.
To begin, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my adviser, professor Turid Mørkøre, for all of the great assistance, guidance, and inspiration she provided me while I was working on my thesis. My educational experience has been much enhanced by the individual's expertise as well as their capacity for providing constructive criticism and patience. This has been an extremely helpful aspect of my research attempts. I am grateful to her for the advice that she has given me as a mentor and for the expertise that she has passed on to me.
In addition, I would also like to thank my friends Julia Formanowicz and Marte Røsvik, for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout my studies. Their friendship and support have been essential to my success.
I am also grateful to Aller Aqua Company, for its assistance during my visit to the sea cages at Askvoll for fish sampling.
Furthermore, I wish to express my profound love, and gratitude to my son, Barbod, who wholeheartedly believes in the power of knowledge and science. Throughout my years of study, he has shown cooperation, patience, and kindness, which have been instrumental in my academic journey.
Last but not least, I extend my deepest appreciation to my partner, Thomas. His unwavering support, both emotionally and intellectually, has been my anchor during challenging times. His uplifting words and belief in my capabilities have propelled me forward, filling my academic journey with encouragement and strength
An analysis of geopolitical disruptions and foreign policy change in the Norwegian-Russian relationship
Get PDFThe overarching argument after the Cold War was that stability, prosperity and cooperation
would be the defining nature of the European security landscape and prevent inter-state wars
from happening. This thesis argue that this view was abruptly questioned after the Russian
annexation of Crimea in 2014. Western perceptions of Russia took a sharp U-turn and what
was once described as a valuable partner, was now portrayed as aggressive and expansionist.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the cleavages between the West and Russia
were absolute. Once a prosperous partnership had been replaced by fear and uncertainty.
To explain the complex relationships in the system and Norwegian security perspectives. The
thesis explores and analyse the Fokus documents, more specifically the threat assessments of
the Norwegian Intelligence Service. The findings that emerge from these documents
contribute to the understanding of how a changing Russian world view serve as drivers of
change with the intention of a new multipolar world order. By utilizing IR theories and
concepts, the thesis explores the fundamental structure of the international system, while
arguing that balance of power theory enhances the understanding of motivations behind
change. In this thesis the security dilemma explores how the cleavages between the West and
Russia, create uncertainty and security deficits through an uncontrollable spiral.
The thesis seeks to understand, portray and discuss the changes in Norwegian security, and its
perception towards Russia and external developments in the near abroad. The use of foreign
policy theory and the concept of subjective security explore the motivations behind dominant
security narratives that influence changes in Norwegian foreign policy.
Through the analysis and discussion of Fokus documents, the thesis argues that developments,
conflicting world views and hostile intentions between the West and Russia has shaped and
influence the social and interconnected relationship between Norway and Russia. Despite
cleavages and conflicting world views, both Norway and Russia maintain the idea of a stable
and low-tension Arctic. The thesis argues that understanding and clear intentions are the only
measures left to ensure that the relations between Russia and the West, remain cold
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Evolving the Theory of Effectuation Within Entrepreneurial Practice
Get PDFThe Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming industries and redefining business practices globally. This thesis examines how AI impacts the application of Sarasvathy's Effectuation Theory within the entrepreneurial processes of early-stage startups. Effectuation Theory, which focuses on leveraging available means and making adaptive decisions under uncertainty, is re-evaluated considering AI's capabilities. The research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing in-depth interviews with startup founders and AI experts to gather insights.
Findings reveal that AI significantly enhances entrepreneurial efficiency by automating routine tasks, enabling sophisticated data analysis, and facilitating rapid decision-making. AI's ability to predict market trends and optimize operations allows entrepreneurs to navigate uncertainties with greater precision and agility. However, the reliance on AI for innovation presents limitations, as AI excels in optimization but falls short in generating truly disruptive ideas. Human creativity and strategic thinking remain indispensable for groundbreaking innovation.
The study also explores the ethical considerations and challenges associated with AI integration, including data privacy, potential biases, and job displacement. Despite these challenges, AI democratizes access to advanced technologies, leveling the playing field between small startups and large corporations.
This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on entrepreneurship in the digital era, suggesting that Effectuation Theory should incorporate AI as a core resource. The enhanced decision-making and operational capabilities provided by AI necessitate an augmentation of entrepreneurial strategies, blending AI's analytical strengths with human creativity to drive sustainable growth and innovation.The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming industries and redefining business practices globally. This thesis examines how AI impacts the application of Sarasvathy's Effectuation Theory within the entrepreneurial processes of early-stage startups. Effectuation Theory, which focuses on leveraging available means and making adaptive decisions under uncertainty, is re-evaluated considering AI's capabilities. The research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing in-depth interviews with startup founders and AI experts to gather insights.
Findings reveal that AI significantly enhances entrepreneurial efficiency by automating routine tasks, enabling sophisticated data analysis, and facilitating rapid decision-making. AI's ability to predict market trends and optimize operations allows entrepreneurs to navigate uncertainties with greater precision and agility. However, the reliance on AI for innovation presents limitations, as AI excels in optimization but falls short in generating truly disruptive ideas. Human creativity and strategic thinking remain indispensable for groundbreaking innovation.
The study also explores the ethical considerations and challenges associated with AI integration, including data privacy, potential biases, and job displacement. Despite these challenges, AI democratizes access to advanced technologies, leveling the playing field between small startups and large corporations.
This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on entrepreneurship in the digital era, suggesting that Effectuation Theory should incorporate AI as a core resource. The enhanced decision-making and operational capabilities provided by AI necessitate an augmentation of entrepreneurial strategies, blending AI's analytical strengths with human creativity to drive sustainable growth and innovation
Når solen har gått ned
Get PDFNattøkonomi representerer en betydelig, men ofte oversett dimensjon av urban økonomi. En dypere innsikt i hvordan nattøkonomien bidrar til byliv og hvilke fordeler det bringer, kan oppmuntre eiendomsutviklere til en mer helhetlig tilnærming til sine prosjekter. Ved å integrere nattøkonomiske elementer i sine prosjekter, kan eiendomsutviklere både forbedre bylivets kvaliteter og øke eiendommens langsiktige verdier.
Nattøkonomi er enhver økonomisk aktivitet som finner sted mellom kl. 18.00 og kl. 06.00. Økonomisk og teknologisk utvikling påvirker etterspørselen etter tjenester knyttet til kvelden og natten. Nattøkonomi er et velintegrert konsept i flere europeiske byer. Til tross for dette viser det seg at nattøkonomi er relativt nytt og lite forsket på blant flere eiendomsutviklere i Norge. Eiendomsutviklere innehar en betydelig mulighet og rolle til å realisere nattens fulle potensial. Vi har utviklet en nattøkonomi-modell som illustrerer hvordan eiendomsutviklere som en viktig aktør kan anvende innovasjon ved hjelp av nattøkonomi for å skape aktivitet i byrommet hele døgnet. Hensikten med denne masteroppgaven er å skape interesse for en ny måte å tenke økonomi og vekst på i eiendomsbransjen, ved å forstå sammenhengen mellom eiendomsutvikling og nattøkonomi.
Gjennom et kvalitativt forskningsdesign danner litteraturstudien og funn fra intervjuobjekter kunnskapsgrunnlaget for hvordan eiendomsutviklere kan nyttiggjøre seg nattøkonomi for å styrke egen virksomhet. I eiendomsutviklingsprosessen kan det planlegges for nattøkonomi i de to første fasene - i idéutvikling og mulighetsstudie. Byens størrelse har relativt liten betydning for nattøkonomiens suksess. Det er derimot avgjørende for nattøkonomien at eiendomsutviklere etablerer grunnleggende gode konsepter, der flere funksjoner og sambruk er et viktig virkemiddel. Samtidig er det essensielt med en balanse mellom kostnadsfrie og kommersielle tilbud som appellerer til et bredt spekter av brukere. En utvidelse av kollektivtilbudet kan være en faktor som vil styrke tilbudene eiendomsutviklere etablerer for å fremme aktivitet i byrommet på kvelden og natten. For å fremme en vellykket nattøkonomi som inkluderer alle disse faktorene er det avgjørende å starte et tidlig samarbeid med lokale myndigheter og aktører i utviklingsprosjektet.
Vår forskning viser en tydelig retning; nattøkonomi byr på betydelige muligheter for eiendomsutviklere ved å maksimere utnyttelse og verdi som fører til økt økonomisk vekst og sosial utvikling.The nighttime economy represents a significant, but often overlooked dimension of urban economy. A deeper insight into how the nighttime economy contributes to urban life and the benefits it brings can encourage real estate developers to take a more holistic approach to their projects. By integrating the nighttime economic elements into their projects, real estate developers can both improve the qualities of urban life and increase the property's long-term values.
The nighttime economy includes any economic activity that takes place between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Economic and technological development affect the demand for services related to the evening and night. The nighttime economy is a well-integrated concept in several European cities. Despite this, it turns out that the nighttime economy is relatively new and little researched among several real estate developers in Norway. Real estate developers hold a significant opportunity and role to realize the full potential of the night. We have developed the nighttime economy-model that illustrates how real estate developers as a crucial participant can apply innovation with the help of nighttime economy to create activity in the urban space around the clock. The purpose of this master's thesis is to create interest in a new way of thinking about economics and growth in the real estate industry, by understanding the connection between real estate development and the nighttime economy.
Through a qualitative research design, the literature study and findings from interviews form the knowledge base for how real estate developers can make use of the nighttime economy to strengthen their own business. In the real estate development process, it is in the first two phases that the nighttime economy can be planned for - the idea development and feasibility study. The size of the city has relatively little impact on the success of the the nighttime economy. However, it is crucial for the nighttime economy that real estate developers establish fundamentally good concepts, where more functions and joint use are an important tool. At the same time, a balance between free and commercial offerings that appeal to a wide range of users is essential. An expansion of public transport services may be a factor that will strengthen the services that real estate developers establish to promote activity in the urban space in the evening and at night. In order to promote a successful nighttime economy that includes all these factors, it is crucial to start an early collaboration with local authorities and participants in the development project.
Our study shows a clear direction; the nighttime economy offers significant opportunities for real estate developers by maximizing utilization and value leading to increased economic growth and social development
Naturbaserte løsninger i kommunale planer
Get PDFNaturbaserte løsninger (NBL) har fått økende oppmerksomhet som en løsning for å håndtere ulike samfunnsutfordringer, deriblant effekter av klimaendringer. Rapporten er basert på et oppdrag for Miljødirektoratet om å undersøke om, i hvilken grad og på hvilken måte føringen om naturbaserte løsninger for klimatilpasning i Statlige planretningslinjer for klima- og energiplanlegging og klimatilpasning (SPR klima) følges opp i samfunns- og arealplanleggingen i utvalgte norske kommuner. For å undersøke dette har vi gjennomført dokumentanalyser, workshop og intervjuer med fire norske kommuner: Bodø, Indre Østfold, Stavanger og Trondheim. Rapporten gir en oversikt over status fra hver kommune og hvordan NBL er vurdert der. Barrierer, muligheter og behov identifisert i oppdraget presenteres, samt eksempler på hvordan NBL kan vurderes. Funnene viser at de fire kommunene har erfaring med NBL, men flere opplever at de fortsatt er tidlig i prosessen. Alle kommunene vurderer og inkluderer bruk av ulike typer NBL i overordnede planer, mens det varierte mer om kommunene også gjorde dette på reguleringsnivå. Knyttet til klimatilpasning vurderes NBL oftest i sammenheng med overvannshåndtering og flom, og i liten grad for andre klimautfordringer. Det kom også frem at informantene generelt var usikre på hvordan vurderinger og begrunnelser i henhold til føringen i SPR klima kan gjennomføres og dokumenteres.publishedVersio
Landdekkeklassifisering fra hyperspektrale bilder
Get PDFDenne oppgaven undersøker mulighetene og utfordringene ved å benytte høyoppløselige hyperspektrale bilder og data for landdekke- og arealklassifisering. Hyperspektrale sensorer kan gi svært detaljert informasjon om jordoverflaten gjennom mange smale spektrale bånd. Dette åpner for nye anvendelser innen kartlegging og overvåking av ulike arealtyper og materialer. Oppgaven vår ser nærmere på bruk av hyperspektrale data for generell klassifisering av arealtyper. Ulike maskinlæringsmetoder som Support Vector Machine og Random Forest benyttes for å trene klassifiseringsmodeller i Catalyst, basert på treningsdata. Resultatene viser at det er mulig å oppnå akseptable klassifiseringsnøyaktigheter for disse arealtypene. Videre belyses utfordringer knyttet til hyperspektrale data, som stor datamengde, dimensjonalitetsreduksjon, datasettbalansering og effekter av skygger. Manuelle analyser av slike data er svært krevende, og oppgaven ser derfor på bruk av tilgjengelig programvare og verktøy for effektiv prosessering og visualisering. Landdekkeklassifisering basert på hyperspektrale bilder og informasjon har tidligere, i stor grad, vært begrenset til data fra satellitter. Oppgaven undersøker muligheten for å utnytte høyoppløselige hyperspektrale data fra fly for mer detaljert kartlegging av arealet.This thesis explores the potential and challenges associated with the use of high-resolution hyperspectral images and data for land cover and area classification. Hyperspectral sensors can provide highly detailed information about the Earth's surface through numerous narrow spectral bands. This opens up new possibilities for mapping and monitoring various types of land cover and materials. Our study delves into the application of hyperspectral data for the general classification of land cover types. Various machine learning methods such as Support Vector Machine and Random Forest are employed to train classification models in Catalyst, based on training data. The results indicate that it is possible to achieve acceptable classification accuracies for these types of land cover. Furthermore, the thesis highlights challenges related to hyperspectral data, such as large data volumes, dimensionality reduction, dataset balancing, and the effects of shadows. Manual analyses of such data are exceedingly demanding, hence the thesis examines the use of available software and tools for efficient processing and visualization. Historically, land cover classification based on hyperspectral imagery and information has largely been confined to satellite data. The thesis investigates the feasibility of utilizing high-resolution hyperspectral data from aircraft for more detailed mapping of the terrain
Diagnostics of Canine Elbow Dysplasia using Deep Learning with Explainability Analysis
Get PDFElbow Dysplasia is a term used to describe the presence of one or several abnormalities involving the elbow joint. It is genetically inheritable and could in the worst case lead to lameness in dogs. In Norway, dogs can be screened of elbow dysplasia when they are a minimum of 12 months old. This thesis builds on the NMBU master thesis by Steiro, where Steiro used convolutional neural networks on dog elbow x-ray images to automatically diagnose elbow dysplasia. This thesis delved therefore deeper, to see if one could identify the severity grade of elbow dysplasia by experimenting with parameters in convolutional neural networks.
There was a total of 7229 x-ray images collected from various clinics across Norway between 2018 and 2021, that were used for analysis in this thesis. EfficientNet models of different complexities and other parameters, such as type of loss function and learning rate were used for classification. There were four-class models which looked at one normal class and three classes of abnormal elbows with increasing severity, and three-class models which only looked at abnormal elbows, that were tested.
The highest overall performing model in terms of the four-class models, had a test accuracy of 95.8% and a high test MCC of 0.805. On the other hand, the highest overall performing three-class model had a test accuracy of 76.4% combined with a test MCC of 0.643.
In addition to experimenting with different loss functions and learning rates, two distinct pre-processing methods were tested to boost performance for the three-class models. The first technique was using images from three channels, where two of the channels had augmented versions of the original image. The second technique was binarization of the image dataset, where two of the three classes of abnormal elbows were merged, making it a binary problem.
Lastly, explainability analysis was implemented on the highest overall performing three-class model, to assess if the model could have potential to be used in a clinical setting. This was done with a method called Variance of the Gradients, to understand which regions of the elbow joint most affected the model's predictions. This method proved that the model was not reliable, because the model often looked outside of the elbow joint, which is outside the intended region of interest
Er kundens ordrestørrelse hos grossist en indikator på kundens egen lønnsomhet? En analyse av sammenhengen mellom elektroentreprenørenes ordrestørrelser hos elektrogrossist og elektroentreprenørenes lønnsomhet.
Get PDFI denne masteroppgaven undersøker vi om elektroentreprenørers ordrestørrelser hos grossist kan være en indikator på elektroentreprenørens egen lønnsomhet. Oppgaven bygger på en antagelse om at elektroentreprenørens kjøpemønster hos grossist er tett forbundet med elektroentreprenørens evne til å drive effektivt og økonomisk rasjonelt. Oppgaven er kvantitativ og basert på data over ordrestørrelser mottatt fra én norsk elektrogrossist. Data på lønnsomhet er hentet fra offentlig tilgjengelig regnskapsinformasjon. Vi ønsker med denne oppgaven å bidra til økt innsikt i driverne bak lønnsom drift i et entreprenørforetak. Vi ønsker også å gi støtte for de grunnleggende påstandene innenfor fagfeltet aktivitetsbasert kostnadskalkulasjon. Vårt hovedfunn i denne oppgaven er en positiv signifikant sammenheng mellom ordrestørrelse hos grossist og elektroentreprenørens lønnsomhet. Denne sammenhengen lar seg påvise tilsvarende sterkt i to adskilte regnskapsår. Vi finner også at elektroentreprenørens vareandel hos grossist påvirker graden av sammenheng mellom ordrestørrelse og lønnsomhet. En gruppe elektroentreprenører med en høy vareandel viser sterkere sammenheng enn en gruppe med lavere vareandel.In this master thesis, we examine whether electrical contractors’ order sizes with its wholesalers can be an indicator of the electrical contractor’s own profitability. The thesis is based on an assumption that electrical contractor’s purchase pattern is closely linked to the contractor’s ability to run its company efficient and profitably. The thesis is quantitative and based on data on order sizes received from one Norwegian electrical wholesaler. Data on profitability is gathered from publicly available accounting information. With this thesis, we want to contribute to increased insight into the drivers behind profitable operations within a contracting firm. We also want to provide support for the basic claims withing the field of activity-based costing. Our main finding in this thesis is a positive significant correlation between order size at the wholesaler and the electrical contractor's own profitability. This correlation can be demonstrated to be similarly strong in two separate financial years. We also find that the electrical contractors share of goods with the wholesaler affects the degree of correlation between order size and profitability. A group of contractors with a higher share of goods show a stronger correlation, compared to a group of contractors with a lower share of goods