The joint Baltic-Nordic Energy Research Program
On Friday the 26th of October 2018 it became clear that all three Baltic countries were ready to enter into the Baltic-Nordic energy research cooperation initiated by Nordic Energy Research (NER)…
On Friday the 26th of October 2018 it became clear that all three Baltic countries were ready to enter into the Baltic-Nordic energy research cooperation initiated by Nordic Energy Research (NER).
The agreement took the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) where the Baltic States and Nordic Energy Research signalled the will to finance a 24 million NOK research cooperation over four years.
Overall aim
The overall aim of the program is to promote energy research and analysis in the Baltic States and inspire intra-Baltic and Baltic-Nordic collaboration. This aim translates into three central actions:
- Action no 1: Promotion of intra-Baltic and Baltic-Nordic research projects with participation of Baltic researchers,
- Action no 2: A Baltic-Nordic Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) collaboration,
- Action no 3: Exchange of energy researchers between the Baltic and Nordic countries.
Details on each action can be found below.
The CEO of Nordic Energy Research, Hans Jørgen Koch, stated that
“By launching this initiative we have taken an important step in creating a better exchange of ideas and knowledge between the Nordics and Baltics. This co-operation will be vital if both regions are to remain globally competitive and energy-secure in the years to come.”
The memorandum of understanding will help pave the way for further research cooperation between the Nordics and Baltics and build upon the success of the Baltic Energy Technology Scenarios project.
Nordic Energy Research CEO Hans Jørgen Koch and Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Kadri Simson, sign the memorandum. Photos: Annika Haas/Norden.ee
Action 1 - Promotion of intra-Baltic and Baltic-Nordic research projects with participation of Baltic researchers
Research calls
The second round of three rounds of calls for proposals within the joint Baltic-Nordic Energy Research programme have been announced.
- Decarbonisation of the transport sector
- Energy efficiency in buildings and industry
- Energy system analysis
- Challenges and opportunities for regional electricity grids
Projects selected for funding
The first round of calls for the joint Baltic-Nordic Energy Research programme is now completed, and three projects are selected to receive funding:
- Fast, flexible and secure decarbonisation of the Baltic states – possible progress in the next Ten years (FasTen)
- Integrating energy sufficiency into modelling of sustainable energy scenarios
- Knowledge sharing on NZEB buildings in the Nordic-Baltic region
Read more about the selection process and find more information about the selected projects here.
All information regarding the 2019 call can be found on the Call for proposals-page.
All information regarding the 2020 call can be found on the Call for proposals-page.
Specific reports
The Programme Board will also commission reports on specific topics of special interest to the programme board. These will be published on this site.
Report: Heat Pump Potential in the Baltic States
The report “Heat Pump Potential in the Baltic States” maps and analyzes the potential and benefits of using heat pumps and electric boilers. The report has gathered and examined data on heat- and cooling sources, small and large-scale heat pump and electric boiler potential, as well as socio-economic costs and benefits. The conclusion is that these devices are promising options for curbing climate-warming emissions and developing the heating- and cooling markets in the Baltic countries. Read the report here.
Report: Transport Statistical Data and Projections in The Baltic States
The first published specific report, Transport Statistical Data and Projections in The Baltic States, looks into the historical characterisation of the transport sector in the Baltic States, gives an overview of the actual policy framework, and evaluate the alternative energy sources that can be adopted by the Baltic States to decarbonize the transport sector. Download and read the report here.
Action 2 & 3 - A Baltic-Nordic PhD collaboration and exchange of energy researchers
Nordic and Nordic-Baltic PhD and researcher mobility
Nordic Energy Research is offering support for Nordic and Nordic-Baltic PhD and researcher mobility in key areas that Nordic Energy Research has identified as most relevant for Nordic Energy Research cooperation: digitalisation, development of the electricity market, energy storage, transport, bioenergy and CCUS.
The aims and objectives of the PhD and researcher mobility projects are:
- to develop, facilitate and create a more concrete framework for collaboration and co-operation between higher education institutions, research institutions and industry in the Nordic and Nordic-Baltic regions;
- to offer support to PhD and research projects in the key areas: digitalisation, development of the electricity market, energy storage, transport, bioenergy and CCUS;
- to help students and researchers to create useful networks.
NOK 12,7 million is available under this call. Of this, NOK 2.7 million is reserved for partners in Nordic-Baltic projects. Find more information on the funding-page.
Action no 2: A Baltic-Nordic Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) collaboration
A Baltic-Nordic Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) collaboration will be organised through NERs general researcher mobility actions. See information above.
Action no 3: Exchange of energy researchers between the Baltic and Nordic countries
As for action 2, exchange of energy researchers between the Baltic and Nordic countries will be organised through NERs general researcher mobility actions. See information above.
Details
As of Friday the 26 of October 2018 Nordic Energy Research, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have all signed the Nordic-Baltic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), officially putting the memorandum into effect.
The signing parties of this MoU are: Mr Hans Jørgen Koch, Nordic Energy Research CEO; Mr Arvils Ašeradens, Deputy Prime minister and Minister of Economics of the Republic of Latvia; Ms Kadri Simson, Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure; and Mr Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania.
With all four signatures in place the 2.4 million Euro collaborative energy research programme can now begin.
Initiated by Nordic Energy Research and developed in collaboration with the Baltic States’ ministries responsible for the energy sector, the Nordic-Baltic MoU establishes a collaborative energy research programme across the two regions.
The program will be 50% funded by Nordic Energy Research (an organisation under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers), and 50% by the Baltic governments. There are three central aims for the programme:
- To promote intra-Baltic and Baltic- Nordic energy research projects with participation of Baltic researchers.
- Create a Baltic- Nordic PhD collaboration programme.
- Foster an exchange of energy research between the Baltic and Nordic countries.
Download
- Baltic-Nordic Energy Research programme MoU – SIGNED
- Baltic-Nordic Energy Research programme MoU
- Annex 1 – Programme Memorandum
- Annex 2 – Terms of Reference
Contact:
Kevin Johnsen
Senior Adviser
Phone: +47 47 85 07 82
kevin.johnsen@nordicenergy.org
