Development in energy consumption is closely linked with society's requirements for energy for heating, transport, lighting, cooling, etc. The environmental impact from energy use is only, to a relatively minor degree, connected with the actual consumption of energy, with the majority of the impact occurring during the production phase - i.e. the conversion of fuel to useful energy forms. The most important environmental impact regarding energy use is air pollution. Developments in the CO₂ emission are thereby closely linked with developments in energy consumption.

NERI's activities, with regard to energy, first and foremost relate to emissions to air, but research is also being carried out in the field of wind energy - wind turbine planning, the scenic effects of wind turbines, the impact of wind turbines on birds and wildlife. Finally, the attitude of the public towards wind energy is examined.