Energy Systems Engineering – projects

Shallow geothermal system integration with underground thermal energy storage for a sustainable heating and cooling

The search for holistic sustainable solutions directs towards the development of energy efficient urban settlements, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, and using resources in a sustainable and economically manner.

The main purpose of this project is the study of shallow geothermal energy systems based on multi-scale and multi-domain, interfacing three domains: the building energy system (including ground characterization and climate conditions); the district system at urban scale (the potential of these systems scaling up from the building to urban level); and the energy storage (minimizing the seasonal effect and increasing the long-term use). 

Advanced energy systems for sustainable water management and desalination units in remote island communities

Providing sustainable energy solutions for isolated societies, such as islands, is a challenging task. This project will investigate and provide renewable based energy solutions for a Greek island, Santorini. Water desalination as well as electricity generation will be the main focus of this project. The research group at UiS will be responsible for modeling, analysis and optimization of the integrated system.

World's first micro gas turbine running on 100% hydrogen

The collaborative research project between University of Stavanger (UiS) and the aerospace research center of Germany (DLR) has successfully demonstrated the fuel flexible micro gas turbine. For the first time a commercial micro gas turbine was operated on 100% hydrogen as fuel with NOx emissions below the allowable limits. Beside the pilot plant operation, issues related to further development of the combustion technology as well as creation of a automated monitoring system, based on artificial intelligence, have been investigated with successful outcome.

Read about our ground-breaking research results.

Next-MGT – Next Generation of Micro Gas Turbines for High Efficiency, Low Emissions and Fuel Flexibility

This project aims at further development of micro gas turbines as dispatchable generation units to support intermittent renewables.

• Cutting edge multidisciplinary R&D to make a step change in understanding of Micro Gas Turbines (MGT) systems’ technology and commercialization aspects to enable large increase in their share in the energy market and contribution to the low carbon economy while providing specialized training for 15 researchers to help establish the backbone of an important industry
• A training program for highly skilled researchers that can contribute to development of cost effective and environment friendly distributed power generation technologies​
• WP 3 leader - System Components Innovations and Integration with Energy Storage​
• Development of low cost high performance electronic and control systems. Development of high performance compact and low cost recuperators using compressed metal foams. Development of energy storage concepts based on smart integration with MGT​

Research activities at UiS focus on developing:

• data analytic tools for condition monitoring and optimized operation of MGT systems in real-time applications allowed by dynamic modeling, intelligent methods as well as ICT solutions. The outcomes of this project are expected to lead to higher reliability and availability, higher operational efficiency, lower operational expenditure, and higher flexibility of the MGT system and those of the integrated energy systems. ​
• innovative tools for techno-economic evaluation of MGT systems building on existing models integrated with artificial intelligence for optimized techno-economic performance. This will suggest viable solutions for MGT applications in different scenarios, contributing to increased share of this flexible technology in the growing market of distributed generation and other applications.

Read more here!

Agastor – Advanced Gas and Carbon Dioxide Storage in Aquifer

Carbon geological storage (CGS) as an element of the CCUS/CCS process is considered to be the most viable option for storage of large CO₂ quantities, needed to reduce global warming and related climate change. Storage of natural gas and partially decarbonized gas (with addition H₂) will play a vital role in the stability of energy supply in the EU. The innovative, guiding concept of the AGaStor project is based on synergy between natural gas storage and CO₂ storage process in a location near captured CO₂ emission sources (e.g. in NW Poland). The main objective of the project is to facilitate the implementation of advanced Underground Gas Storage (UGS) using dynamic support of Carbon Dioxide Cushion (CDC) in saline aquifers. The project will produce practical guidelines and solutions for characterization of possible storage sites of UNGS with CDC (3D architecture of the storage complex, trapping mechanisms, reactive flow, CO₂/NG mixing process, risk assessment and sensitivity analysis) in selected regions of future deployment, improved monitoring and potential mitigation of CO₂ leakage. Combining CO₂ storage with UGS can bring economic and technological advantages to the industry and allow it to reduce the amount of anthropogenic emissions of CO₂. A key issue of the AGaStor project will be knowledge exchange and enhanced cooperation between the Polish & Norwegian partners to determine the best technologies & application in the energy systems of partner countries.

BHEsINNO – Innovation in Underground Thermal Energy Storages with Borehole Heat Exchangers

The project involves development of innovative structures of Borehole Heat Exchangers (BHEs). Structures tested as a part of the project will aim to maximize the energy effect (which is defined as a unitary power obtained in BHE, in Watt per meter), innovative constructions including the pipe system in the borehole, and new composite coaxial pipes system will be developed. Coaxial constructions will be analyzed and compared to the traditional, U-tube based ones. The coaxial construction gives possibilities to use boreholes with greater depth than U-pipe design. Research methodology is based on mathematical modelling of an individual BHEs as well as fields consisting of multiple BHEs, taking into account their interference. Modelling will be verified by in situ tests on created BHEs. Thermal Response Tests (TRT) will be conducted on every borehole, as well as thermal conductivity test.

Smart solutions for energy systems of the future

The goal of this project is to investigate tools and methods founded on artificial intelligence (AI) for monitoring, analysis and optimum design and operation of energy systems, mainly in buildings, both thermal and electrical and the coupling of them. Hence, the main objectives/targets of this project are:

1. to study advanced tools for real-time monitoring of energy systems;
2. to analyze models to predict the production, demand, and states of energy systems;
3. to evaluate how various energy resources, load profiles, and operating strategies affect the performance of multi-vector energy systems;

The work aims to address the following research questions:

1. In a multi-vector energy system consisting of heating, cooling, and power production technologies, how can the optimal operation of these technologies be determined?
2. What are the effects of an AI-based energy management system for both demand and supply side control on different indicators such as district energy consumption, costs, and GHG emissions?
3. How can an AI-based design and operation toolkit be developed to efficiently influence heating and cooling production of a heat pump system?

Subsea Energy Storage – Industrial PhD

A concept for storing energy at the seabed using the principle of pumped hydro storage has been developed by Subsea 7. The concept will be further developed during this PhD project. Pumped hydro storage in itself is a mature technology but the system architecture for a subsea pumped hydro storage unit will need to be developed and analyzed. Certain advantages exist with a subsea energy storage, such as being able to store energy close to remote offshore locations, e.g. oil and gas installations, or renewable energy installations such as deep-water floating offshore wind parks which are currently under development. In addition, a cost-effective energy storage for subsea installation would mean that the ocean can be utilized for storing energy. The research work will include thermodynamic analysis, further development of the concept and identification of the technology gaps.

EERA – JP Geothermal

The European energy research alliance for geothermal energy is aiming at promoting further development of the geothermal energy technology as a dispatchable renewable energy source. University of Stavanger is partner of the JP Geothermal, represented by Prof. Mohsen Assadi.

The full-scale living lab, currently under construction at university campus, will provide the research group with crucial data and information, which will enable comparative studies on borehole heat exchanger design, working fluids, well design and instrumentation, and operation optimization.