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CenSES annual report 2014 3
In 2013, CenSES’ third year as a Centre for Environmen-
tally friendly Energy Research (FME), we had a focus
on delivering relevant research results to our partners.
One of the important mechanisms we have establis-
hed is the concept of User Cases, research with a dura-
tion of 1-2 years, directly aimed at answering impor-
tant questions for our user partners. These cases are
typically performed in a cross-disciplinary way in close
cooperation between user partners and researchers.
The focus areas of the user cases have been Norway’s
role in a European energy system with more renewa-
bles, Energy policy measures and Energy demand in
Norway towards 2050. The case looking at Norway’s
role in Europe delivered a draft report in 2013 and will
be nished in spring 2014, incorporating input we
received after consultation with the user partners. The
two other user cases will deliver the rst draft reports
in spring 2014, having spent much of 2013 in dialogue
with users. You can read more on CenSES’ three rst
user cases in the annual report.
The LinkS project that has been part of CenSES re-
search areas Energy Systems and markets and Scenario
Development has nished, and an extensive nal
report as well as an executive summary are available.
The project analysed the links between global cli-
mate policy and regional energy systems. The EMPIRE
model developed in LinkS has already been used to
perform policy studies for the Zero Emission Platform
(ZEP) in their energy markets working group. It is a
good example illustrating that CenSES results also
makes it possible for our researchers to participate in
European initiatives. We want to see more of that in
future years.
In 2013 our PhD candidates continued their work. At
the end of the year we had 26 PhD candidates sup-
ported by the centre, while one candidate successfully
completed his PhD in 2013. The next round of PhD
candidates will be hired in early 2015 as the current
ones graduate. Together with our partners we will
de ne the exciting research tasks for the next group of
candidates during 2014.
In 2013 ve new research projects received funding
with CenSES partners. Another 21 PhD candidates are
working in these and other related projects and are
part of the CenSES PhD network.
In addition around 70 master students wrote their
thesis related to the centre, at NTNU, NHH and UiO. It
is encouraging that an increasing number of students
are interested in writing their thesis on energy policy
or studying energy systems and markets.
Our ve Research Areas (RA) had a productive year,
with 25 journal papers, nearly 80 conference presen-
tations, 35 presentations for our partners, as well as
press coverage in broadcast, print and digital media.
At the CenSES annual conference arranged in Oslo in
December, we saw for the rst time that the majority
of presentations were from our PhD students. The con-
ference was an inspiring mix of results from CenSES
young researchers and senior researchers’ perspec-
tives on the topics.
In 2013 the Ung Energi initiative developed further
through the website All the mate-
rial on the website is written and collected by the
Ung Energi project group consisting of youths. The
objective is to increase the knowledge and aware-
ness of environmentally friendly energy technologies;
to highlight related challenges and opportunities
for society among youths in general; and to increase
recruitement to the eld. After 2013 we consider the
pilot phase as over, and Ung Energi continues as a pro-
ject with support from CenSES and several partners
from industry and government.
The PhD and master education as well as dissemina-
tion activities in Ung Energi also creates a lot of new
energy in the future!
Asgeir Tomasgard
Centre Director, CenSES
Report from the Centre Director