Our vision
The vision of the NCS2030 research centre is to be the scientific and technology driver to facilitate an energy-efficient, multi-purpose utilization of the subsurface into a “Sustainable Subsurface Value Chain” to reach the net-zero-emission goals.
Four main research areas are identified: Subsurface energy systems, net-zero emission production, digitalization, and society. Transitioning the NCS into the future Sustainable Subsurface Value Chain requires a new way of thinking across disciplines. Increased understanding of the subsurface for hydrogen and CO2 storage, geothermal energy, in addition to efficient hydrocarbon production, are elements that the centre will focus on to achieve the goal.
Awarded SPE Energy Transition Award 2026
NCS2030 has been awarded the Energy Transition Award 2026 by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Stavanger Section.
The award recognizes the centre’s contributions to the global energy transition and its efforts to support the transformation towards a more sustainable energy system in Norway.
The award decision was made by the Board of SPE Stavanger. In its justification, the board highlights NCS2030’s efforts and results within research, knowledge development, and collaboration, which have strengthened the understanding of the energy transition on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and within the energy industry more broadly.
The Energy Transition Award is presented to individuals and organizations that have made substantial contributions to the growth and further development of the oil and gas industry and the wider energy sector, through academia, technology development, or business development.
The award was presented during the SPE Stavanger Awards Gala 2026, which took place at the Stavanger Concert Hall on Friday, 22 May at 18:00. The annual ceremony brings together representatives from the energy industry, academia, and partners to honor professional achievements and key contributions to the industry’s development.
In addition to the Energy Transition Award, SPE Stavanger also presented awards for Best BSc, MSc, and PhD students, as well as Young Engineer of the Year, Energy Ambassador of the Year, and Energy Professional of the Year.
Energy for the future
We are now distributing the Energy Box to students at secondary schools in Rogaland.
Energy is the foundation of our modern society, and there is constant work to find new solutions for the energy transition we face.
The Energy Box is about innovation and new thinking in connection with the environment and future forms of energy. The goal of the project is to provide an insight into the energy transition and the challenges we face in today's society, in addition to an insight into what the research centre NCS2030 is working on.
Through the exploration of the content in the box, we open the door for the younger generation to develop a deeper understanding of innovative energy solutions, sustainable practices and the complex processes that affect today's energy sector.
This project is an invitation to discover the exciting advances, challenges and opportunities that shape the path towards a more sustainable and efficient energy future.
PhD candidates and disputations
The broad interdisciplinary group in the NCS2030 centre is made up of around 90 researchers, including 12 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. We are in the process of hiring another six PhD candidates, which will start during 2026.
Our PhD candidates are making progress contributing with good publications, outreach and international cooperation, and our first PhD candidate, Hilde Halsøy, defended her thesis in March 2026.
Annual reports
Publications
Webinar series
A monthly webinar will be arranged to highlight the centre, activities, and research.
Work packages
Meet our PhD candidates
Master degrees related to NCS2030
In this section you will find links to all published master degrees from the centre.
Deniz Seyfeli: «Lithological Heterogeneities in the Zechstein Group: Compressed Air Energy Storage Opportunities in Salt Caverns»
Thashila Nawanjana Wickrama Arachchilage: «Surfactant-based Smart Water enhanced oil recovery in carbonate rocks»
Alfred Obo: «Enhanced oil recovery potential by carbonated water injection in Bentheimer sandstones»
Gustav Kvitvær: «Low-temperature carbonated water injection for enhanced oil recovery in chalk»
Emilie Alsaker Mathiesen: «Energy system modelling of offshore wind and power from shore integration into the Norwegian continental shelf: An analysis of potential decarbonization pathway scenarios towards 2050»
Nicolas Mauricio Galindo López: «Improvement of volumetric sweep efficiency during oil production using ECO-clay»
John Emeka Udegbunam & Reynel Isaac Villabona Gonzalez: «Federated Computational Workflow for Analysis of DISKOS Digital Palynological Slides»
Curtis Boateng: «Caprock Integrity Assessment of Geological Storage of Hydrogen in Porous Media»
Muhammad Tayyab Hamid: «Well Design for Safe Fluid Injection in Geo-Sequestration Sites»
Edgar Ricardo Del Pino Bullon: «Seismic Forward Modeling of internally layered and structured salt diapirs»
Aikaterini Kourtoglou & Housean Osead Buny: «Geological Evaluation of CO2 storage in depleted oilfields»
Solmøy Austbø & Paul Okoh: «Geothermal potential on the Trøndelag Platform, Norwegian North Sea»
Håvard Skipevåg & Olarewaju Samuel Balogun: «Tectono-sedimentary characteristics and basin modeling»
Associated & spin-off projects
The author(s) acknowledge the Research Council of Norway and the industry partners of NCS2030 – RCN project number 331644 – for their support.
Project code: When you register results and dissemination in the NVA database related to the NCS2030 centre, please make sure to use project code 331644 and source RCN (Forskningsrådet).
Funding statement (when required): This work is funded by NCS2030, RCN#331644, a national research centre financed by the Research council of Norway, the industry sponsors, and the academic partners.
Acknowledgment for associative or collaborating projects: The author(s) acknowledge(s) the support of and collaboration with the research centre NCS2030 (RCN project number 331644).
How do we contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals?
Affordable and clean energy, climate action and education are important contributions from NCS2030.
NCS2030 contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) including SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) by building new competence and research solutions for the Sustainable Subsurface Value Chain, SDG 13 (climate action) by providing solutions for a NZE society by 2050; SDG 4 (education) by educating the new generation of professionals for the energy transition; and also SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure) by building competence for new business opportunities; SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) by providing solutions for low-emission and effective utilization of the subsurface; SDG 14 (life below water) by safe subsurface storage of CO2/H2 and reduced water discharge to sea; and SDG 5 (gender equality) by setting the ambitious goal that at least 40% of center staff will be female.
Management team
Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering
Faculty Administration TN
Project Support and PhD Administration TN
Faculty Administration TN
Project Support and PhD Administration TN
NCS2030 theses
Proposed master's thesis projects related to the National Centre for Sustainable Subsurface Utilization of the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Our partners
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