The go-to place for everything on Nordic energy cooperation

Nordic Energy Research has worked on advancing Nordic energy cooperation for more than four decades, with work spanning many areas, from research cooperation to intergovernmental cooperation. There is a lot of information and knowledge available for everyone interested in the Nordic region’s unique progress and journey towards climate neutrality.

Do you want to know everything we do on hydrogen involving Denmark? No problem.

With our improved search function, you can now filter our publications, news, events, and more by both topics and countries involved. That way you can easily see everything we do and have done on, for example, hydrogen many years back, whether it’s research, analyses, or events.

“Our new user-friendly website offers visitors new ways to engage with our work and with us. By highlighting both the Nordic energy cooperation and the people who make it happen, we bring to life the Nordic added value we provide,” says Maria Eklöf, Head of Communications, at Nordic Energy Research.

Do you have feedback?

Do you like the new website, or maybe you’ve found a broken link? Don’t hesitate to contact us with feedback at webmaster@nordicenergy.org.

The post Explore our new website! appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

This question is at the core of our Nordic Energy Research Mobility Programme, which gathered PhD students and researchers across fields and regions for the Annual Mobility Workshop in October. During the workshop, participants explored ways of working together towards a sustinable energy future. The main takeaway from the discussions is that knowledge shared is knowledge doubled – and impact multiplied.

Extending the scientific horizon

“Great relationships make for great research,” said Elvar Knútur Valsson, Head of Department, Nordic Energy Research, as he opened the workshop.

“We facilitate networking in order to share best practices, and that’s where you come in. Meeting face-to-face allows us to make the most of the personal connections that effective collaboration relies on,” he highlighted.

Following Elvar’s welcome speech, both ongoing and new projects in the Nordic Energy Research Mobility Programme gave presentations on the aims and progress of their work. By exchanging insights into different topics – such as the potential of a clean hydrogen market, law and governance aspects of offshore energy, and fire safety concerns in new energy technologies – the project partners were able to build on each other’s strengths.

Anne Neumann, Project Leader of NordNET, exemplified the added value generated through the programme.

“The interaction of topic experts in the network leads to the creation of more knowledge valuable to all societies. The majority of researchers involved in NordNET only got into lively exchange through the project. It gave PhDs the opportunity to extend their scientific horizon and collaborate with colleagues other than their own supervisors, and led to three common third-party funded research projects as spin-offs​,” said Anne.

Furthermore, the NordNET project provided a boost in the visibility of the members’ work, not only in the Nordics but also on the European stage. This contributes to the visibility of the Nordic perspective, for instance on renewable fuels in the maritime sector.

Combined intelligence

In addition to the project presentations, the workshop had two guest speakers addressing the challenges and opportunities of using articifial intelligence for knowledge development.

Giulia Cosentino, Assistant Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, elaborated on what she called “the new hybrid” – the combination of artificial intelligence and human intelligence.

“We should collaborate and think about how we can create hybrid intelligence: combining the unique strengths of humans and AI,” said Giulia.

Cecilia Leveaux, Senior Adviser, Nordic Council of Ministers, gave a talk on Nordic collaboration on AI. By mobilising capacity and competence building across Nordic and Nordic-Baltic research communities, we can more effectively arrive at solutions for responsible implementation of AI.

Research is a feedback loop – learning is about giving and taking. Thereby, research projects can grow through funding from institutions like Nordic Energy Research, while Nordic Energy Research can grow through their funded projects. After two days of active workshopping, we would like to thank all participants for coming together to further develop their work. We look forward to seeing their projects progress and to continuing our joint efforts toward a more integrated Nordic research landscape.

The post Great relationships make for great research appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

• What he did  
• What he learnt  
• His impression of the Nordics as an integrated region and as an international player  
• Advice to others who wish to apply for funding for an exchange period 

“Broaden my outlook as a person and as a researcher”

This was my first exchange program with another university since starting my PhD research at the University of Gävle, and it was an enriching experience despite the short duration. Firstly, collaborating with a research group in another country broadened my research perspective. Exploring DTU’s state-of-the-art research facilities, gaining exposure to cutting-edge advancements in renewable energy, and working with peers all contributed to my professional and personal development. DTU has a rich international environment, and during my stay, I met and interacted with many students and fellow researchers from various countries. This helped me understand the common and distinct energy challenges and broaden my outlook as a person and as a researcher.

No research without fun: amidst the demanding and challenging research tasks, the DTU research group always made time for recreational activities and enjoyable moments. I always cherished the morning coffee breaks (similar to Swedish Fika) on Tuesdays when everyone gathered and interacted with each other; that was a time for discussions on any topic under the sky. This brought about an active culture within the group members that went beyond the research. It was inspiring to know that they had been following this tradition for so many years. Living in Copenhagen further strengthened my appreciation for sustainable thinking and actions. Being a biker’s paradise, Copenhagen’s commitment to cycling culture reflects its dedication to environmental consciousness and sustainable urban planning.

Exchanges allow for the transfer of ideas and insights

Being an exchange student in another country always comes with challenges. However, I was incredibly lucky to have my colleagues at DTU, as they were very supportive and considered me as part of their family from day one. This experience reinforced the importance of active collaboration in research that broadens one’s perspective. I also discovered valuable connections between my work at DTU and my ongoing research projects, PVT4EU and RESILIENT, helping me integrate into a multidisciplinary research network. One common thing I could find was that both DTU and the University of Gävle are deeply engaged in advancing renewable energy technologies and sustainability research, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex energy challenges in the Nordic region.

Regular in-person discussions played a crucial role in my exchange experience, allowing me to clarify and resolve some of my long-standing research questions. These face-to-face interactions fostered deeper engagement, enabling me to receive direct feedback and exchange ideas as well. Beyond problem-solving, these discussions provided fresh insights that helped refine my research approach and identify new directions for future work. The collaborative environment encouraged open dialogue, making complex challenges easier to tackle and strengthening my overall understanding of the subject.

The role the Nordics can play as an international player

Mobility is important for cross-border collaboration. There are many ongoing research collaborations between institutions in the Nordic region, and initiatives like the Nordic Energy Research Mobility Programme play a crucial role in strengthening these ties to address common technological challenges. However, it is equally important for researchers to have opportunities to collaborate with research groups beyond the Nordic region. Expanding collaborations internationally promotes inclusiveness, brings in diverse perspectives, and enhances the propagation of the knowledge-sharing process. By integrating both regional and global research efforts, Nordic institutions can not only advance innovation and sustainability within the region but also contribute to solving global challenges, reinforcing their role as key players in the international research community.

Read more and apply for Individual Exchange Support

Nordic Energy Research’s Individual Exchange Support call offers a unique opportunity for PhD students, postdocs, and researchers in the Nordic region to secure financial support to collaborate with leading research groups in a Nordic country on research that contributes to the region’s sustainable energy development. These exchanges provide valuable exposure, enhance knowledge exchange, and strengthen regional research networks. Don’t hesitate to apply—plan ahead, prepare thoroughly, and seize the opportunity to expand your research horizons.

Read more about the programme here

Apply for funding here

For any questions about the call, feel free to contact Senior Adviser Maj Dang Trong or Adviser Ditte Stiler.

The post From Gävle to Copenhagen: “An enriching experience” appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

Shipping is a key industry in the Nordic countries, but at the same time one of the important remaining sectors for decarbonisation in the region. However, this sector also consists of a variety of shipping segments, routes, and vessels with diverse conditions. Therefore, the STORM project, funded under the Nordic Maritime Transport and Energy Research Programme, aims to explore the opportunities and limitations of a number of fuel options for different types of shipping.

The project will address this aim through three distinct Nordic shipping cases: 

• Ferry operations between mainland Sweden and Gotland
• Fisheries and fishing vessels in Iceland
• Liner services in the Nordic region

Each case presents unique challenges and opportunities pertaining to the transition of fuel, influenced by geographical factors and sector-specific requirements. The first case focuses on hydrogen while the fuel choices for the other segments are to be decided. Through the supply chain perspective, the project aims to scrutinise areas from fuel supply, distribution, fueling processes to impacts of implementation for hydrogen and other innovative renewable fuel options. 

Utilising a multidisciplinary approach, STORM will foster collaboration among five research organisations and eight industry stakeholders from Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands, all with vested interests in marine fuel transition. The research objectives are derived from real-world challenges identified by the industry and include to: 

• Assess fuel supply options encompassing local production and/or import of fuels or feedstock for the studied cases
• Develop and apply a framework for assessing the suitability of fuels for various shipping segments
• Identify barriers and opportunities within the selected shipping cases and formulate tailored solutions
• Propose additional policy options to accelerate the transition to renewable marine fuels

Furthermore, the project aims to foster enhanced cooperation and knowledge exchange among Nordic stakeholders through significant stakeholder engagement and a diverse range of dissemination activities. 

“STORM enhances integration in the region by bringing together five research organisations and eight industry stakeholders – in Iceland, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands – all with different interests in marine fuel switching.”

---

Julia Hansson, Project Manager of STORM and Senior Researcher at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institut.

The post STORM appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

The project seeks to convert such waste into valuable products through innovative electrochemical processes powered by renewable electricity. By doing so, it supports the shift to sustainable materials, chemicals, and fuels, contributing to a greener society.

A key focus is on using straw-derived cellulose in advanced electrolysis to produce green hydrogen more efficiently than traditional methods. Alongside hydrogen, the process yields platform chemicals such as glucaric acid, a key ingredient for bio-based plastics.

Through collaboration across the Nordic-Baltic region, the project supports Europe’s Hydrogen Economy strategy and helps lower greenhouse gas emissions, offering clear benefits for the environment and society.

The post AGRI-WASTE2H2 appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

Biomass and biogenic CO₂ are limited resources. To unlock their full potential, there is a need for inclusion of low value biomass feedstocks and integration of advanced technologies – like Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) and Power-to-X (PtX), with established bioenergy value chains such as biogas production. However, fragmented adoption and limited regional collaboration hinder the development of unified, efficient bioenergy strategies.

HyCarbFuels puts particular focus on security of fuel supply in the marine sector, military applications, and remote areas. For example, the project intends to investigate the possibility of making a Greenlandic settlement self supplied with bio-oil produced from a combination of local biopulp and seaweed.

Deliverables include evidence-based recommendations supported by analyses of energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental impacts. This will help policymakers and industry stakeholders adopt optimised biomass utilisation practices, strengthening the Nordic region’s position as a global leader in sustainable bioenergy solutions.

The post HyCarbFuels appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

The Nordic energy systems are rapidly evolving with the introduction of new energy sources, an increasing share of fossil-free energy, enhanced market flexibility, as well as behavioural and demographic changes, alongside shifting policies. National energy system analysis and energy modelling have a strong tradition in the Nordic countries. However, increased cooperation is essential to facilitate the green energy transition and prepare for uncertainties that could impact energy systems, such as geopolitical tensions and extreme weather events. 

The new Nordic Energy Systems Programme aims to strengthen national energy system modelling efforts by fostering networks among Nordic institutions and elevating these efforts to a regional level. Building on the Nordic Energy Outlooks Programme, it provides a unique opportunity to delve deeper into issues relevant to Nordic energy systems, ensuring the robustness of models used by Nordic institutions and fostering trust in the reliability of their data. 

The deadline for applications is 25 March 2025 at 13:00 (CET). 

Background and aim

Energy system models are a key Nordic export, serving both as a knowledge-based industry and as a crucial enabler for companies to make informed investment decisions. This underscores the role played by energy system modeling in strengthening competitiveness.  

In addition, the Nordic energy system is highly interconnected. Therefore, national energy system analysis must build on knowledge not only of the national system, but also on that of neighbouring systems.  

To strengthen Nordic cooperation in the field of energy system analysis and energy modelling, the Nordic Energy Systems Programme will create a forum for national expert groups and institutions, providing links of knowledge-transfer between them. Thereby, the programme aims to synthesise the results of current national research and put these into a Nordic context. 

The overall aim of the Nordic Energy Systems Programme is to: 

• Strengthen Nordic research competence and cooperation in the field of energy systems analysis by building on existing national research programs. 
• Facilitate Nordic and national added value by creating synergies between current national research outcomes and comparing these at a regional level. 
• Bring together national research groups with specific knowledge of sub-sectors within the field to investigate similar research questions, providing further insight into how methodologies, models, and assumptions impact results. 
• Contribute to building stronger Nordic models and datasets, which can be utilised by authorities and decision-makers. 

The call structure of the Nordic Energy Systems Programme is organised into two work packages and one project lead work package which will have the overall coordination responsibilities:  

• Work Package 0: Project lead
  This work package will be responsible for ensuring ownership, continuity and feedback throughout both Work package 1 and Work package 2. The work package will also participate in both these work packages.  
• Work Package 1: Managing Uncertainty in the Nordic Energy System
  This work package examines the role of uncertainty in the Nordic energy system, how abrupt changes can be modeled, and their impact on results. Key concepts include parametric uncertainty, structural uncertainty, and risk. 
• Work Package 2: Energy System modelling and Socioeconomic models
  This work package explores how energy system model results can inform broader socioeconomic impacts, focusing on socio-technical perspectives and macroeconomic modeling. 

Who can apply?

The call is open to Research Performing Organizations (RPOs) in Nordic countries with expertise in energy system modeling, based in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, or Finland.  You can apply individually or as a consortium from the same country if it supports ongoing modelling activities and fits the budget. Applicants may apply for any work package (WP) based on their expertise and can choose to apply for both WP1 and WP2 or just one. To apply for WP0 the applicant must have applied for both WP1 and WP2. 

Information webinar

On 5 February, a webinar was held about the call and application process. Did you miss the webinar or would you like to access the information again? See the webinar presentation here.

The post Call for proposals: Nordic Energy Systems Programme appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

SpeedLocal’s objective is to empower local stakeholders to collaboratively create sustainable integrated energy plans that align with national climate and energy policies. The project strives to bridge the gap between traditional research disciplines and improve coordination across geographical and governance scales.

Madelene Danielzon Larsson, Energiforsk, is Project Coordinator of SpeedLocal. She highlights that even though innovative energy technologies will continue to be critical for realising a decarbonised energy system, we have the necessary solutions available to achieve significant progress now.

“What we need in the near-term for realising the green energy transition is not only knowledge-transfer and effective communication between diverse stakeholders, but also the ability to build consensus among them,” says Madelene.

Navigating the intricate relationship between energy and society

SpeedLocal is set to support both local and national decision-makers in their transition management processes, by facilitating and building knowledge. This will provide a solid foundation for developing recommendations and a knowledge base for policymakers and the energy sector.

Madelene elaborates on the purpose for SpeedLocal:

“The goal of our approach is to further our capacity for turning knowledge into action by navigating the intricate relationship between energy and society. Our approach actively involves stakeholders, including local governments, energy utilities, community organisations, and academia. This enhances integration of local insights into national and Nordic energy planning, enabling recommendations for targeted governance strategies and policies.”

The project’s inclusion of expertise in local spatial analysis strengthens the relevance and legitimacy of SpeedLocals recommendations for policy making and decision support.

The SpeedLocal plan

SpeedLocal engages researchers and communities across the Nordic countries in three case studies:

• Trøndelag, Norway
• Skaraborg, Sweden
• Bornholm, Denmark

“We chose these three places because they are great examples of communities where the challenges of aligning national targets with lived realities on a local are brought to life. Getting feedback from our cases can enrich the process and help us understand the impacts and barriers at local and national scale and how it can influence the speed of the green transition,” Madelene says.

By bringing together these stakeholders, SpeedLocal aims to strengthen local actors’ capacities and facilitate processes for turning existing knowledge into strategies for integrated energy planning that is inclusive and sustainable. Key factors to achieving this aim is by integrating local insights and considerations into the broader national and Nordic energy planning analyses. To ensure consistency across countries, cases, and Work packages, two scientific leads oversee the research framework throughout the project. Scientific Lead for Social Science and Transition Management is Magnus Hennlock, Swedish Environmental Research Institute, and Kenneth Karlsson, Energy Modelling Lab, is the lead for Energy System Analysis. This structure aims to ensure a balanced representation of research disciplines and to manage the stakeholder engagement plan throughout the project.

The potential of future energy infrastructure landscapes

Strategies for realising the energy transition will need to balance a complex web of interconnected factors that shape the potential paths for energy system development, creating high levels of uncertainty for local decision-makers. By addressing the complexities and strengths of the region’s unique context, including recognising the cultural and social significance of landscapes; the project integrates these values into the planning process. Thereby fostering a deeper understanding of how development impacts the region. Daniel Urey, Co-founder and Head of LABLAB, is responsible for one of the projects’ work packages. He highlights the importance of taking into consideration the lived, recreational, and visual aspects of landscape impacts of the energy transition in the Nordics.

“At LABLAB we like to explain the green energy transition as a cultural and communicative matter where landscapes and their meaning for our societies plays a key role for the making of a socially sustainable transition. This is the reason why future planning process needs to take a stronger consideration of landscapes,” says Daniel.

In addition, the inclusion of new stakeholders with different development, investment and planning priorities adds to the complexity of the transition. Effectively addressing this coordination challenge depends on the ability of stakeholders to collaborate to develop innovative solutions.

“It has become evident that without strengthening our capacity for transfer of knowledge between stakeholders to inform an integrated planning approach, we will not be able to meet our ambitions to ensure a secure, affordable, and sustainable transition. The multiple drivers and barriers for a long-term sustainable transition cannot be addressed by employing singular perspectives or by homogenous stakeholder groups,” says Madelene.

Project partners:

• Energiforsk
• Energy Modelling Lab
• IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
• Institute for Energy Technology
• LABLAB
• Luleå University of Technology
• VTT
• Technical University of Denmark
• Bornholm Regionskommune
• Skaraborg kommunförbund
• Vara kommun
• Trøndelag fylkeskommune

Follow the project

The first results from the SpeedLocal project are expected in 2025. You can follow the project and the other projects within the Nordic Grand Solutions Programme on LinkedIn.

The post SpeedLocal: Enhancing local implementation and social acceptance appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

“International research cooperation is crucial for finding the best energy solutions to climate change,” said Birte Holst Jørgensen, Senior Researcher at the Technical University of Denmark, in her opening keynote speech.

“Science does not know any borders. By cooperating internationally and educating the energy researchers of the future, we benefit from greater access to competencies, unique sites, and specialised facilities, but also from sharing costs and risks of expensive research infrastructure.”

The workshop proved to be an excellent setting for interdisciplinary connections and knowledge sharing, catering to the participants’ interest in exchanging experiences about their work and establishing long-term relations and collaborations. Of particular interest were the presentations of the three projects funded within the Nordic Energy Research Mobility Programme:

• Nordic Fire and Safety Network: Focus on Energy III (NFSNergy)
• Nordic Network on Energy System Integration and Sustainable Transport (NordNET 2.0)
• Energy Informatics Academy Network Nordic (EIA Nordic)

In between the sessions, we got to delve deeper into these projects, as we sat down with the project leaders to discuss their respective expertise on fire safety in green energy initiatives, sustainable transport, and energy informatics.

Safety checking the fast development of energy technology

Safety issues must be accounted for in new energy technologies – if not addressed, fire incidents may lead to a backlash in the social acceptance of the green transition. With this in mind, NFSNergy III aims to reach out to energy activites in society requiring fire safety. 

Anne Dederichs is Project Leader of NFSNergy and Senior Research Scientist at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. She explains that our society is currently undergoing a fast development of new technologies, which need to be accompanied by a safety concern. However, projects that focus on the safety aspects are outnumbered by the avalanche of green initiatives which introduce new materials, each with its own set of fire safety needs.

“Our part of the job has not been done in respect to the different aspects of green energy with different carriers, such as batteries and hydrogen. NFSNergy aims to remedy this. Safety hygiene should be part of every green research project, from the very moment the project starts. We need a routine in safety hygiene in both research and development,“ says Dederichs.

After the success of the two earlier NFSNergy projects, NFSNergy III builds on their results to expand the collaboration between multidisciplinary teams working on important energy-related initiatives that promote fire safety. By organising summer schools, webinars, conferences, and an equliaty network, NFSNergy III seeks to increase the networking among researchers, postdocs, and PhD students in the field of safety of buildings and energy infrastructures.

“New ideas mostly come about face to face”

Like the name suggests, NordNET 2.0 builds on an earlier project that started three years ago. Then, it was mostly about connecting researchers across disciplines to come up with new research ideas. Now, NordNET 2.0 joins forces to develop interdisciplinary research in the Nordics for guidance in policymaking on the energy and transportation system, as transportation is becoming more and more electricity based.

“When we think about the future energy system, we need to think about what transportation of the future looks like, due to the increasing connection between the two,” says Jens Weibezahn, Project Leader of NordNET 2.0 and Assistant Professor at Copenhagen School of Energy Infrastructure (CSEI).

“How will the behavioural patterns and mobility look? What kind of fuel will, e.g., long-haul trucking use? And how and where will this fuel be produced? Is it just electricity, hydrogen of some sort, or something completely different? All these aspects need to be integrated considering tomorrow’s energy systems. This is basically why NordNET 2.0 brings together energy and electricity system modellers and transportation scientists, as well as economists, who are more concerned with the regulation and the market design. Once we have decided in detail what kind of future we want, we can build the right frameworks to make it happen.”

By gathering engineers, economists, and behavioural scientist, NordNet 2.0 lets each network partner bring their specific focus and expertise to the table. At the same time, the project opens up the opportunity for PhD students and researchers alike to gain knowledge and insights into the adjacent sector (electricity and transportation, respectively) as well as additional research methodology, leading to a broader portfolio and more interdisciplinary research outputs.

“It’s important for PhD students to not only be with their supervisors at home, but meeting new people, building a network of their own, and getting new perspectives. Cooperation can work quite well online once you’ve started it, but new ideas mostly come about face to face. On the one hand, we obviously want to travel as little as possible, but on the other, physical meetings in less formal settings are very valuable,” says Weibezahn.

“For example, thanks to Nordic Energy Research, we’ve been able to extend our network towards Icelandic partners, since we got to meet in person at the Nordic Hydrogen Valleys Conference in Reykjavik last year. Iceland is a remote country but also very important in terms of energy. It’s really interesting for us to get their perspective as well.”

In addition to the dilemma of travelling and meeting in person, Weibezahn mentions another challenge for engaging in collaborative and networking activities related to energy research:

“Time! It’s really hard to organise long-term stays for researchers. We had originally planned three-month stays for them in the partner institution, but they have so many other commitments in terms of family and work that it’s just not feasible to be away from home for such a long time. That could be solved by shortening the stays, which are still valuable.”

Planning for the intellectual resilience of the Nordic region

While NFSNergy deals with safety concerns and NordNet puts focus on the integration of energy and transportation, the project EIA Nordic addresses energy infomatics. Energy informatics is a fundamental component for strategic planning and operational management of energy systems in the Nordic region, but the region is currently lacking a cohesive networking framework for energy informatics.

“This absence impedes the Nordics’ capability to lead in sustainable energy systems,” says Zheng Grace Ma, Project Leader of EIA Nordic and Full Professor at SDU Center for Energy Informatics. “The Nordic region’s unique climate, economic, and social characteristics, alongside ambitious sustainability goals, underscore the necessity of energy informatics for navigating the green energy transition.”

The absence of dedicated networking initatives within energy informatics results in inadequate dissemination of knowledge and slows down the professional growth of professionals in the field. Therefore, EIA Nordic is designed to establish robust networks through research exchanges, annual conferences, and yearly summer schools in energy informatics, in order to sustain the Nordic region’s leadership in sustainable energy development.

“We talk about data-driven systems, which are all running on fuels, i.e., data. But there is no fuel – the data for the analyses and improvements isn’t there, so the whole implementation of smartness falls because we need to feed in something. We’re interested in looking into how we can join forces and define what is needed to get better data. It’s not one thing, but many that have to come together,” says Ivo Martinac, Professor and Chair of Building Services and Energy Systems at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

“However, the challenge is that these initiatives won’t happen without funding. And then when they actually happen, there needs to be a focus on openness and inclusiveness, in order for further growth. The Nordic Energy Research Mobility Programme is essential for realising this,” says Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen, Professor and Head at SDU Center for Energy Informatics.

When it comes to funding, Ma also mentions the issue of dependency.

“Funding is of course crucial, but it entails strong dependency at the same time. We want to try and see what can be self-sustained. After the project ends, we hope to have a sustainable framework that helps us continue our work. Furthermore, all of us are senior, so we’ll have to incubate the juniors who will later become the seniors that can maintain the network,” says Ma.

Martinac agrees: “The sustainable recruitment of Nordic capacity will carry on for the new generations of researchers and professors. But to become a professor, you have to go through several stages, which we need a framework for. It’s vital to plan for the intellectual resilience of the Nordic region – to think long-term for how the academic capacity should look. What profiles? Who are these people? What values do they have?”

Nordic Energy Research would like to thank everyone for taking part in the constructive dialogue, both during the presentations and in the breaks! We look forward to continuing the strengthening and expansion of energy communities across the Nordic countries. The next Annual Mobility Workshop will be in the end of October 2025.

The post “International research cooperation is crucial for finding the best energy solutions to climate change” appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.

The project supports the Nordic region’s transition to a sustainable green energy system by aligning national planning, local implementation, and social acceptability. Across the Nordics, policy makers have stressed the need for an integrated energy planning approach to achieve this. However, stakeholders tasked with developing and implementing such plans often lack guidance and tools to incorporate energy demands and potentials with resource availability, landscape impacts, and community claims. Considering the substantial changes that Nordic landscapes and communities will undergo in the coming years, along with the often-contentious nature of these changes, there is a pressing need for frameworks to guide the transition process locally. Actionable knowledge is needed to comprehend space for action, in what timeframes, and how local choices impact, and are impacted by, national and regional energy and climate objectives.

This transdisciplinary initiative engages experts, stakeholders, and communities across the Nordic countries in three case studies; Trondelag, Norway; Skaraborg, Sweden; and Bornholm, Denmark. In these places, national targets and visions are brought into life. Feedback from these cases can enrich the process and help us understand the impacts and barriers at local and national scale as well as how it can influence the speed of the green transition.

The project combines a variety of methods, including stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, landscape analysis, participatory processes, and energy system modeling. Two scientific approaches are appointed to ensure that disciplines are well-balanced and interconnected throughout the project, fostering collaboration and maximising the value of shared knowledge in the Nordic region. The results will be collected in a Strategy Kit for integrated energy planning, equipped with communicative tools and strategies to bridge gaps between research and implementation, providing local stakeholders with actionable knowledge.

The post SpeedLocal appeared first on Nordic Energy Research.