Projects and activities

The research group is engaged in a wide range of projects. Our research strengths are in construction technologies and renovation of buildings, renewable energy technologies including bio energy, hydrogen and fuel cells and building materials especially for cold climate and the Arctic conditions.

SPRING (2019-2023) 

Strategic Planning for water Resources and Implementation of Novel biotechnical treatment solutions and Good practices (SPRING) is a research project under EU-India Water Challenge, H2020 call. Total Budget 4,7 m euro. 

UiT is  coordinating this project with 14 partners, six form EU and 8 from India.  Project is starting in Aug 2019.  The project involves developing new technologies for treating watse water. 

RC - A Nordic Center for Energy Efficient Renovations

The goal will be reached by establishing a Nordic Renovation Center, a Nordic knowledge network that would share best practices and support regional stakeholders with information, education and new pedagogical tools on how to perform sustainable renovations.

RC - A Nordic Center for Energy Efficient Renovations. 

The companies, municipalities and property owners who participate in the project activities will after the project have expanded their network of valuable contacts, have an increased knowledge on sustainable renovation methods and have new tools for proactive property maintenance and energy efficient renovations.   

http://www.nordicrenovationcenter.fi/

HyTrec 2 (2017-2022)

This is a continuation of HyTrec-1  project is in to the second phase that involves developing hydrogen production and filling technologies. The project will also contribute towards and shape the development of infrastructure, technology skills and financial instruments to support hydrogen technology in the transport sector.

https://northsearegion.eu/hytrec2/

Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) within Northwest Russia 

Cooperation between UiT (Narvik University College), GK Norge AS and Sigra Group AS.

Investigation of the possibilities for investing in energy efficiency measures in nort west Russia by use of energy performance contracting.

Resulting in two pilot projects in Murmansk and Priozersk.

Pilot projects run by Sigra Group AS.

BA Senter Nord 

The project is funded by Indusrty and Forskingsrådet in collaboration with Norut, Sintef , Nordland and Finnmark Fyleskommune with an aim of establishing  Competance/Skill Centre for Building and Construction in the North.  The project will develop uptodate and industry relevant education programs at bachelor and masters level as well as responding to R &D demand and enhancing laboratory capabilities. 

http://www.smartconstruction.no/ba-senter-nord-nord-norge-satser-sammen/

GrAB (Green Arctic Building)

GrAB is co-funded by Kolarctic CBC programme and with five project partners located in Russia, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Apart from the project partners, it also has seven associate ones. 

The main objective of the project is the creation and promotion of environmental innovation of "green buildings" in different fields. The project will focus on green building design, materials and developing green tools for implementation of ecological certification and standards.

https://www.ernact.eu/NewsDetail.aspx?MediaNewsId=802

FaMaRB Facility Management of Residential Buildings in the Arctic region 

Lead partner: UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway 

Other partners: 
*Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Oulu, FINLAND
*Northern Arctic Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Arkhangelsk, RUSSIA
*RISE Research Institute of Sweden, Borås, SWEDEN

CIRCULUS - bærekraftig betonggjenvinning

Funded through the Research Council's BIA program, 2019-2022, framework: NOK 30 million

CIRCULUS will put concrete into a circular economic context, where value creation and resource efficiency are increased throughout the value chain.

DeConcrete: Eco-efficient Arctic Technologies Cooperation

Another Kolartic project cofunded by Fylkeskommune Nordland, with partners from Russia, Finlad and Norway with 1.2 m euro budget. The project will investigate dismantle / demolish processes of concrete constructions with an aim to find more energy efficient, giving less stress to the local environment, and resulting in a higher proportion of material recovery. All aspects of technology, logistics, environmental benefit and economy will be assessed to recommend effectiveness and viablity of recycling concrete.  

Joint project with University of Laval Canaada, and UiT funded by Sentinel North 

A Canada/Norway Comparative Study of Pathways towards Highly Energy Efficient Buildings for the Arctic and Subarctic Regions.

Main objectives:

(i)Provide a detailed comparison between Norway and Canada with respect to building energy efficiency in the high North.
(ii)Establish a framework towards highly energy efficient high North buildings considering different contexts.

Evaluate the potential of enhanced prefabrication of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for different high North contexts

PAST AND RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS 

Use of Heat Pump in Barents Region (HEPUPRO)

Other partners include Lapland University of Applied Sciences and Murmansk Regional Agency of Energy Efficiency.

Sustainable Building for High North (Kolartic  Project)

Accommodating for increased cross border activity and development within sustainable building technology, cooperation and business for the high north.

HyTrec 1 (Hydrogen Transport Economy for the North Sea Region 2012-2015)  

An Interreg project lead by Aberdeen City Council, with partners from, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, UK and Norway. Funding was received from the Nordland County. The aim of the project to develop support system for validation, promotion and adoption of innovative technologies involving Hydrogen energy to enhance the economic competitive development of strategy and initiative at regional national and EU level. 

Development of sustainable energy efficiency business in Inner Mongolia (NORAD)

The project aim was to develop Green energy solutions in Inner Mongolia for environment friendly industrial development and sustainable buildings.

The project also involve in competence and up skilling of personnel.

ColdTech   (Phase I, 2010-2014; Phase II, 2014-2017)

ColdTech project deals with infrastructure and operations in cold climate and covers most aspects of construction, operations and living in Cold Regions like arctic and alpine. 

Simulation of icing and snow deposition (Coldtech).Research work carries out using both experimental and numerical CFD techniques.

PhD projects

Current   

  • Heat and mass transfer in soils subject to freezing and thawing    
  • Innovation in Buildings in cold climate   
  • Energy efficient renovation of buildings and HVAC systems   
  • Characteristics of biomass Gasification
  • Design optimisation of advanced Biomass-gasification system for Integrated fuel cell CHP,    
  • Artificial thawing of frost in ground 

Recently Completed PhD projects 

  • Energy flexible heat system for buildings by integration of in-house heat stations.
  • Remediation of contaminated marine sediments,  
  • Experimental and Numerical study of porous   
  • Passive Building design for Cold climate 
  • Characteristics of thawing of frozen ground

Academic Cooperation

There are several ongoing projects funded by The Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (DIKU).

These projects develop collaborative education program at masters and PhD  level with Universities in different countries.  Several masters students and PhD researchers have benefited from these mobility programs.  we have successful partnership with universities in 

Armenia, Belgium, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Spain, Czech Republic, UK, US