Topics for master theses

Topics for master theses

Here is a list of possible topics to write a Master thesis under the supervision of ENE’s researchers:

  • Master thesis in cooperation with Fjord Miljø AS in Nordfjordeid

    Master thesis in cooperation with Fjord Miljø AS in Nordfjordeid

    Some highlights of the company:

    • Developer of equipment to the fish farming industry
    • Our mission is to provide equipment to protect fish from lice infection
    • Our products are for example protection shields, upwelling system, filtration of surface water and monitoring environmental conditions by the use of sensors
    • We are constantly seeking new developments to improve our solutions
    • We are also in a progress of making new partners to have the option to supply complementary products which will supplement our existing products
    • Main office is located in Nordfjordeid
    • Contact person: Arild Heggland

    Some aspects that could be the foundation of a master thesis:

    • Market knowledge of Fjord Miljø and our products
    • Market rating of Fjord Miljø
    • How to improve knowledge and rating?
    • Estimate willingness to pay for protection against lice infection
    • Valuation of our products
    • How do fish farmers consider new products to be useful in the future, these products will be specified later
    • Where do fish farmers expect the industry to move on, landbased, closed containers in sea, continue as their producing today?
    • Other relevant topics.

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • Finance as resource allocation: Does ESG build real assets?

    Finance as resource allocation: Does ESG build real assets?

    This study complements the many that have asked whether ESG (environment, sustainability and governance) is associated with higher or lower return on investment: Finance also creates real assets. Is there evidence, in our time, that preferences or policies, regulation, raises resource flows and asset creation (builds windmills, for instance).

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • The potential in renewable power

    The potential in renewable power

    Contact Eskeland for Study design, as many approaches are on the table. One is the role of taxes (incl the new 'grunnrenteskatt'), another is new concessions and the role and shape of auctions, including contracts of difference; a third is offshore installations and how they are placed in terms of access to markets, etc.

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Political Economy and Social Perspectives on the Climate Transition

    Political Economy and Social Perspectives on the Climate Transition

    NHH works with technically oriented partners (industry, ntnu, ife) on scenarios for the transition to a low-carbon economy. This thesis will combine such scenarios for the transition with perspectives from political economy (as with: who pays, and industry interests, and rich vs poor) and social acceptance.

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Electric vehicles and de-carbonizing transportation

    Electric vehicles and de-carbonizing transportation

    This topic is in collaboration with ENOVA.

    Norway has pledged to reach almost net zero emissions by 2050. The transport sector is responsible for almost one-third of the emissions in Norway, and the use of passenger cars alone is responsible for almost 10%. Therefore, to reach net zero, it is vital to de-carbonize the Norwegian car fleet. A key strategy to reduce emissions from the transport sector is to induce households to replace their fossil fuel cars with electric vehicles. Although most of the new cars sold in Norway are electric, the national fleet of cars still contains 'only' electric vehicles 20%. Will all cars in the future eventually be electric? Or are there barriers preventing the switch to electric vehicles?

    In this topic, students will explore the sources of emissions from the Norwegian car fleet and how these emissions can be reduced. The thesis will focus on two main issues:

    1. Emissions from the car fleet in Norway: Emissions from the transport sector have been steadily falling. But the car fleet is projected to increase in the coming years, and the share of transport with car is also increasing.

    a) What are the drivers of emissions? For example, number of miles driven per car, age of the cars, geographical distribution, etc.

    b) How will these emissions evolve over time?

    2. Switching from fossil fuel cars to electric vehicles: Purchasing and driving electric vehicles have been heavily subsidized by the government. But people are still driving fossil fuel cars.

    a) What are the barriers to replacing your fossil fuel car with an electric vehicle? For example, economic, behavioral, social, etc.

    b) How can we induce households to make the switch to electric?

    This topic can be approached from many different angles and is suitable for a wide range of empirical methods.

    Supervisor: Isabel Hovdahl.

  • Electric vehicles in Norway: Emission reductions versus lost tax tax revenue

    Electric vehicles in Norway: Emission reductions versus lost tax tax revenue

    An analysis of electrical vehicles in  Norway where reduced emissions are measured against  reduced tax revenue.

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • A number of topics in collaboration with the Maritime Cleantech cluster administration

    A number of topics in collaboration with the Maritime Cleantech cluster administration

    • What branding effect will the use of green/emission-free logistics chains have for the fish farming industry?
    • What is the willingness to pay on the part of cargo owners for the use of low- and zero-emission vessels in their logistics operations?
    • Economic valuation of Maritime Cleantech as a cluster organisation.
    • Hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels - how big a role can the production and distribution of these play for Norwegian value creation in 2050?
    • Joint Norwegian investment for the maritime industry: how to position ourselves for increased exports of green technology? (Strategic/Marketing)
    • Analysis of the market for green maritime technology in Southern Europe (can be built on research done by Innovation Norway in France, Spain and Italy)
    • Size, scope and framework of incentive schemes for contracts for difference.
    • Are end consumers willing to pay for green (maritime) transport? If so, how much?
    • Profitability analyzes and CO2 reduction for conversion of existing vessels vs. new construction.
    • Life cycle analyzes for ships - case speedboats and/or cargo ships - Lifetime of vessels - co2 emissions - conversion or measures that can reduce emissions during the ship's lifetime.
    • Return scheme/ circular economy model for ships.
    • Is there an update of the policy apparatus to support wider and more retrofit solutions for ships, to make them more energy efficient?

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • Possible topics in collaboration with Maritime Cleantech cluster partners with assistance from the cluster administration

    Possible topics in collaboration with Maritime Cleantech cluster partners with assistance from the cluster administration

    • Shipping aims to halve its emissions by 2050. How should a shipping company approach this goal in terms of investment and redevelopment programmes? (Shipping company)
    • How to market/sell green fuels and technologies that have not yet been demonstrated in the market? For example hydrogen, fuel cells etc. (fuel producers, FC producers and the like.)
    • Strategy for marketing hydrogen/ammonia as a safe and secure green fuel (producers).
    • Green innovation: How to change from traditional offshore to deliveries in new value chains (supplier industry, shipyards, shipping companies).
    • Efficient/appropriate incentive/public/industrial structure for the production and supply of new energy carriers from wind farms and other offshore locations.

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • Evaluation of various ways for Norway to fulfill the Paris-agreement

    Evaluation of various ways for Norway to fulfill the Paris-agreement

    The objective is to compare various ways Norway can fulfill the Paris-agreement with respect to consequences for the Norwegian economy and for global emissions among other things.

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • Use high frequency satellite data to estimate economic and environmental outcomes of energy production processes

    Use high frequency satellite data to estimate economic and environmental outcomes of energy production processes

    ESA’s Earth Online portal offers European research institutes direct and simple access to Earth Observation data coming from satellite missions operated directly by the European Space Agency and Third Party Missions. These data can be combined with ghgsat estimates to answer the following question: "How much carbon dioxide equivalent was released during the mining/extraction of a particular mine/oil & gas field?"

    Supervisor: Giacomo Benini.

  • Airbnb in Norway & electricity prices

    Airbnb in Norway & electricity prices

    The risk of accepting Airbnb guests is that they might run up all of your utilities. Are renters sensitive to this concern? Estimate the relationship between listings and electricity prices.

    Scrape the Data from http://insideairbnb.com/get-the-data/ and determine whether Airbnb listings in the last 2 years respond to electricity prices.

    Supervisor: Evelina Gavrilova-Zoutman.

  • Can or will energy transition hold back development

    Can or will energy transition hold back development

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Clean up and transition in the North Sea

    Clean up and transition in the North Sea

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Energy companies, ESG and responsive strategies

    Energy companies, ESG and responsive strategies

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • ESG in finance, and EUs taxonomy

    ESG in finance, and EUs taxonomy

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • How suited are batteries to solve the intermittency problem?

    How suited are batteries to solve the intermittency problem?

    A study of the efficiency and suitability of batteries in order to solve the intermittency problem associated with new renewable energy such as solar and wind power.

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • Hydrogen and its role in Europe's energy transition

    Hydrogen and its role in Europe's energy transition

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Transport and CO2 emission reductions (or any segment: maritime, aviation, cars, etc)

    Transport and CO2 emission reductions (or any segment: maritime, aviation, cars, etc)

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • War, crisis and energy in Europe

    War, crisis and energy in Europe

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Green Energy and Guarantees of Origin

    Green Energy and Guarantees of Origin

    During the last years, governments around the world have implemented different policies to promote investments in renewable production capacity. One of the main instruments is a policy known as guarantees of origin. These guarantees operate as a guarantee for final consumers that the electricity they consume comes from renewable energy sources.

    An important characteristic of the guarantees is that the producers are free to sell the electricity and guarantees separately. What we are observing is that while electricity from Norwegian hydropower is largely sold to consumers in Norway, the guarantees from Norwegian hydropower is sold to consumers in Germany and the Netherlands. Despite the growing importance of this policy, there are few studies of the impacts of guarantees of origin on renewable production capacity.

    In this master thesis, the students will investigate the effect of this policy instrument on renewable electricity capacity in Europe. What has Norway’s role been in promoting renewable energy capacity through guarantees of origin? What has the interaction been between guarantees of origin and other incentives to boost investments in renewable production capacity? And what are the implications of the de-coupling of the sale of the electricity with the sale of the guarantees?

    This topic of research is suitable for many different types of methods, depending on the interests and skills of the students. The thesis can be based on either a statistical analysis, case study or modelling exercise.

    Supervisor: Isabel Hovdahl and Mario Blázquez.

  • Detailing the Value of Climate- and Environmental Surveillance on Sea food production

    Detailing the Value of Climate- and Environmental Surveillance on Sea food production

    What’s the cost-benefit for using an integrated climate and environment surveillance on seafood production? The student will assess the impact and values associated with using a detailed monitoring tool called Clarify, which currently is employed by many seafood producers. The student will be given access to unpublished data afforded by Clarify that can be directly compared to other chains of the seafood production, including feeding, fish welfare, loss to sickness and slaughter. Additional climate data can also be made available to the student depending on emerging needs. This Master opens for a relevant exploration of how monitoring can strengthen seafood sustainability and resilience to the changing climate conditions that remain the key premise for seafood production. The industry partner for this thesis is Clarify.

    Supervisor: Geir Drage Berentsen.

  • Optimal placement and impact of offshore wind parks

    Optimal placement and impact of offshore wind parks

    In this thesis, the students will use historical weather data to investigate the potential of Norwegian wind power in a scenario where all the current offshore locations suggested by the NVE are in full production. Alternative locations derived from optimizing production output are available and can be compared to the sites suggested by NVE. A secondary goal is to use the results to investigate the impact on the European energy market. The industry partner for this thesis is Statkraft.

    Supervisor: Geir Drage Berentsen.

  • The black swans of climate risk: Compound events

    The black swans of climate risk: Compound events

    Extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and storms cause major economic losses to private and public sector alike. The latest IPCC report shows that the frequency, and to some extent the magnitude, of such events will continue to increase although there are exceptions. The probability of so-called ‘compound events’ – that two or more extreme events happen simultaneously or successively – will increase due to this ongoing trend.

    Such events carry even more extreme economic losses and play a crucial role in evaluating climate risk, but they are not well constrained nor understood. In 2018, there was elevated risk for snow-driven flooding in central Norway, which was followed by one of the warmest and driest summers on record, which coincided with several climatically induced forest fires. Based on both historical data and climate predictions, the students will evaluate the probability and potential economic consequences of compound events today and in the future and provide insights and advice for the insurance industry. The industry partner for this thesis is Tryg.

    Supervisor: Geir Drage Berentsen.

  • What are the optimal sites for future seafood production?

    What are the optimal sites for future seafood production?

    Wind conditions, sea currents, -temperature and -salinity are all important factors when considering new locations for ocean-based aquaculture facilities. Moreover, locations that are considered optimal today may not be suitable locations in the future due to climate change. In this thesis, the students will investigate the current optimal placements of aquaculture based on detailed historical data. By considering state of the art climate predictions, it can be investigated how these placements will change on different time horizons. The students should also discuss placement conflicts with fisheries and coastal shipping routes. The industry partner for this thesis is Clarify.

    Supervisor: Geir Drage Berentsen.

  • Economic impacts of climate change

    Economic impacts of climate change

    Many social and economic activities are heavily affected by weather variables such as temperatures and precipitation. In this master thesis, the students will explore the relationship between weather variables and economic decisions made by Norwegian households and/or businesses. In addition, the students will explore how climate change, through its effect on temperatures and precipitation, will affect these economic decisions into the future.

    Examples of relationships to explore are the effects of heatwaves on human mortality rates, extreme precipitation on agricultural production, or drought on hydropower production. The exploration can be either on the macro or micro level and can be in the form of either a statistical analysis or modelling exercise. For the prediction exercise, the students will have access to novel climate forecasts from the Climate Futures project. An interesting question to explore is how access to improved seasonal weather forecasts can mitigate the harmful economic impacts of climate change.

    Supervisor: Geir Drage Berentsen.

  • Analysis of catch data in Norwegian fisheries

    Analysis of catch data in Norwegian fisheries

    Organizing and analyzing data from the Norwegian directorate of fisheries.

    Supervisor: Arnt Ove Hopland.

  • Econometric analysis of the sales of new cars in Norway

    Econometric analysis of the sales of new cars in Norway

    Supervisor: Øyvind Thomassen.

    Contact: oyvind.thomassen@nhh.no.

    I have three data sets that you can use for the thesis: 1) price lists with car model variant and some technical characteristics, 2) new registrations of car model engine variants, by age and sex of the registered owner, 3) the annual rules for calculating the registration tax (engangsavgift). 

    For most uses, you will want to merge data sets 1) and 2). This will entail some tedious data work (probably using Stata or R), because of a lack of exact common identifiers. 

    The data go up to 2015, but it may be possible to obtain more recent data. 

    There are many questions that could be answered with the data, including saying something about the effect of the favorable tax treatment given to electric vehicles, which probably explains their large market share in Norway. 

    To choose this topic you must have taken a course in econometrics.

  • Econometric analysis of data from the government vehicle register

    Econometric analysis of data from the government vehicle register

    Supervisor: Øyvind Thomassen.

    Contact: oyvind.thomassen@nhh.no.

    Like my topic ‘Econometric analysis of the sales of new cars in Norway’, this topic is based on data on cars in Norway. However, for this topic, I currently do not have the data, but I believe they can be obtained from Statens Vegvesen (Norwegian Public Roads Administration). See information here: https://www.vegvesen.no/om-oss/om-organisasjonen/apne-data/api-for-kjoretoyopplysninger/utvidet-utlevering-av-kjoretoyopplysninger/

    My other topic uses data on the flow of new cars. This topic uses data on the stock of cars. The two data sources could conceivably be combined.

    Background from a course in econometrics is needed.

  • Natural resource extraction nearby: opportunity or concern for non-resource firms?

    Natural resource extraction nearby: opportunity or concern for non-resource firms?

    How does natural resource extraction such as oil&gas production affect nearby firms in other sectors, such as manufacturing and services? Potential agglomeration effects could benefit firms, but increased competition for labor or more corruption might harm firms. Since firms are the backbone of every modern economy, these considerations are crucial to understand whether natural resources are a blessing or a curse.

    Supervisor: Paul Pelzl.

  • Topics on Environmental Economics

    Topics on Environmental Economics

    Potential topics are:

    • Zero emissions (in shipping/buildings/road veh/airplanes): too much, or just right?
    • Certificates of Origin for Electricity; Stepchild or rising star?
    • A carbon cap for Norwegian farmers: Let forests do what cows and farmers cannot?
    • Carbon footprint and economic analysis for a firm/sector
    • Hydrogen: which part is failing: cars, hydrogen or filling and logistics
    • A new look at biomass and biofuels: can photosynthesis propel transport
    • Oceans in a sustainability strategy
    • Solar power: if a leap lies ahead, what can trigger it
    • Decentralized power generation in Norway: framework and business analysis
    • Renewable power in Norway: shall it expand, and with what instruments
    • A role for Norway as a battery for Europe’s intermittent power
    • A business analysis of Norway’s three proposed carbon capture and storage projects (cement, fertilizer, waste dump)
    • Analysis of emission reduction prospects in Norwegian transport
    • Econometric analysis of demand for energy (or carbon) intensive goods, transport
    • Forests: More wood and biomass in buildings: Economic analysis of climate prospects
    • Financial markets: is there evidence of ‘sin portfolios’ or ‘virtue’ (or green/fossil)? The value of fossil assets / promises in financial markets
    • Analysis of CO2 markets
    • Modeling energy exchange in Northern Europe

    Supervisor: Gunnar S. Eskeland.

  • Analysis of electric batteries and improvements in electricity networks

    Analysis of electric batteries and improvements in electricity networks

    In cooperation with ENOVA

    Contact: Gunnar Eskeland (NHH) and Børge Nilssen Stafne (ENOVA)

  • Logistics: improvements in efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions

    Logistics: improvements in efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions

    In cooperation with ENOVA

    Contact: Gunnar Eskeland (NHH) and Arnt Gunnar Lium (ENOVA)

  • Electricity in the transport sector: Economic and environmental effects

    Electricity in the transport sector: Economic and environmental effects

    Supervisor: Stein Ivar Steinshamn.

  • Regulation and benchmarking of natural monopolies in the energy sector

    Regulation and benchmarking of natural monopolies in the energy sector

    Supervisors: Endre Bjørndal and Mette Bjørndal.

  • Pricing and congestion management in wholesale electricity markets

    Pricing and congestion management in wholesale electricity markets

    Supervisors: Endre Bjørndal and Mette Bjørndal.

  • Integration of renewable energy sources in electricity markets

    Integration of renewable energy sources in electricity markets

    Supervisors: Endre Bjørndal and Mette Bjørndal.

  • Local flexibility markets and demand response in the electricity sector

    Local flexibility markets and demand response in the electricity sector

    Supervisors: Endre Bjørndal and Mette Bjørndal.

  • Integration of regional electricity markets and use of HVDC interconnectors

    Integration of regional electricity markets and use of HVDC interconnectors

    Supervisors: Endre Bjørndal and Mette Bjørndal.

  • European integration of intraday and balancing markets

    European integration of intraday and balancing markets

    Supervisors: Endre Bjørndal and Mette Bjørndal.

  • Sustainable energy and development

    Sustainable energy and development

    Around the world, the governments are imple- menting policies to foster the introduction of renewable energy. In that context, there are different research questions to develop in a master thesis that could contribute to develop a sustainable economic system.

    1. Which will be the relation between renewable energy and hydrogen?
    2. Which are the policies introduced in cities to reduce carbon emissions?
    3. Which will be the impact of the adoption of renewable energy in women unemploy- ment? Could the introduction of renewable energy increase the gender gap?
    4. Which will be the changes in the design of electricity markets induced by the intro- duction of renewable energy?
    5. Which is the relation between hydrogen and lithium batteries? Which is the best way to store electricity in the short-term and in the long-term?
    6. Which policies could be implemented to promote energy effciency?
    7. How do the electricity grid need to change to accommodate renewable energy?

    Supervisor: Mario Blazques de Paz

  • Transmission constraints

    Transmission constraints

    Electricity markets are moving through the integration around the world. Moreover, the countries are increasing their investments in renewable production capacity to fulfil with the agreements in carbon emission reductions. In that context, the transmission grid plays a crucial role promoting the integration of electricity markets and accommodating the renewable production capacity into the system. In re- lation with this topic, there are different research questions that could be of interest to develop a master thesis.

    1. Which should be design of electricity markets in the presence of transmission con- straints.
    2. Could the integration of electricity markets in Europe increase competition? Which will be the impact of that integration in the investments in transmission capacity, and in renewable production capacity?
    3. Which should be the relation between the spot and the redispatch market when the transmission lines are congested? How we can design those markets to increase com- petition?
    4. How should the regulator design transmission tariffs to guarantee investments in trans- mission capacity, and transmission effciency?

    Supervisor: Mario Blazques de Paz