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Norwegian hydropower plants are causing gas supersaturation, threatening fish and bottom-dwelling animals. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), led by Professor Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug, are investigating solutions to this issue, exacerbated by climate change and flooding.

Gas bladder disease, akin to decompression sickness in humans, affects fish when they are exposed to oversaturated water, which can occur through intake tunnels at hydropower facilities. The DeGas project aims to mitigate these risks, utilizing an acoustic transducer to eliminate dissolved air in water.

Initial tests indicate the method's effectiveness at increasing flow rates from 4 to 600 liters per second. The researchers advocate for monitoring requirements from authorities, noting that current regulations are insufficient to address the problem. High levels of air saturation have been recorded at some Norwegian power plants, posing significant risks to aquatic ecosystems.