Master Thesis Proposals

The scope of these proposals can be adjusted and are equally suitable for students from the 5-year integrated masters (30sp) and the 2-year master’s program in Physics (60sp) 

The Renewable Energy group have the following project proposals available for new students (supervisor):

• Icing on power infrastructure (Pravin/Yngve)
• Local cloud climate and its impact on solar energy production (Igor)
• Turbulence-resolving wind climate simulations with impact on wind energy production (Igor)

• Life Cycle Assessment of V2G Technology (Tobias)

The group have several research projects, external collaborators and networks that may offer master thesis projects. One example is Troms Kraft, which presented their company and possible collaboration projects spring 2024. Information from this is in the link to the right, and project proposals are summerized here

• Troms Kraft proposals (Contact person UiT: Johannes Fjell Hojem, johannes.f.hojem@uit.no)

Icing on power infrastructure

Supervisor: Pravin Punde (Yngve Birkelund, yngve.birkelund@uit.no)
Posted: May 2025

Background
This project is connected to the nICE project funded by the Norwegian Research Counsil. The project has access to a field ice monitoring station at Narvikfjellet, where measurement of iceload as well as wind, temperature, humidity and other atmospheric properties are taken. In addition, we have got similar measurements from a new potential location for a wind power plant in the region. As icing can create critical operation issues for power infrastructures, it is important to be able to predict icing rates using measurement and models.

Project description

In this project the student will

• analyse images taken from measuremnt stations 
• compare and verify images with icing measurement 
• create machine learning algorithms that convert images to icing parameteres
• analyse and compare numerical weather modelling results with field measurements 

External collaboration
Yes. Company and locations for additional measurements not openly shared.  

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Local cloud climate and its impact on solar energy production

Supervisor: Igor Ezau, igor.ezau@uit.no
Posted: May 2024

Background

Energy production by photovoltaic panels (PV) is sensitive to attenuation of incoming solar radiation by clouds. Clouds are highly variable in space and time. Attenuation in clouds depends on their micro-physical properties, altitude, and thickness. Satellite imagery reveals complex spatial organization and fine-scale structures in cloud fields. Both organization and structure of cloudiness are of primary importance for solar energy production as well as for forecasting of energy output. Although in situ cloud observations are sparce and models do not reproduce spatial organization of clouds, satellite observations provide sufficiently detailed high-resolution information to study local cloud climate. E.g., the MODIS cloud mask data product could be used to build-up 20 years of 1 km cloud climate assessment globally..

Project description

Using MODIS, Sentinel, LandSat and other high spatial resolution satellite cloud products, the candidate will:

• Create a cloud climatology for a variety of selected Norwegian PV sites
• Retrieve attenuation of solar radiation by different clouds comparing actual production and predictions of global radiation models
• Suggest the best locations for the selected Norwegian PV sites

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Turbulence-resolving wind climate simulations with impact on wind energy production

Supervisor: Igor Ezau, igor.ezau@uit.no
Posted: May 2024

Background

Energy production by wind turbines is sensitive to interaction between wind and turbulence over complex terrain. Winds are highly variable in space and time. Turbulence transport momentum (and energy) downward making it accessible to wind turbines. But turbulence also creates wind gusts and changes wind direction. Turbulence-resolving (large-eddy simulation) models can help with more accurate assessment of wind climate as well as with more accurate prediction of wind fluctuations in complex terrain where other models fail. Turbulence-resolving model PALM is now under active development and testing. It includes modules for simulation of both physio-morphological properties of terrain and wind turbines. Its application to the real wind farms needs more studies.

Project description

Using PALM for wind simulation of a selected period, the candidate will:

• Setup PALM for simulations of the Fakken wind park
• Use wind data from MET.NO to identify the wind regimes at the park
• Simulate wind climate at 10 m resolution for a subset of wind regimes
• Evaluate short-term wind prediction with PALM

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Life Cycle Assessment of V2G Technology

Supervisor: Shemin Sagaria, shemin.sagaria@uit.no and Tobias Boström, tobias.bostrom@uit.no
Posted: August 2024

Background

The primary objective of this MSc thesis is to conduct a comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, focusing on its environmental and economic impacts. V2G technology uses the batteries in EVs to store energy and retrieve it when needed, thus integrating the electrification of transportation systems with grid support. Through this, it is possible to reduce the need for economical, human and material resources to manufacture new pristine energy storage systems

Description

The MSc thesis research will involve a detailed examination of the carbon emissions associated with V2G systems across their entire life cycle, from production to end-of-life. Additionally, the study aims to quantify the potential reduction in carbon emissions when V2G technology is used as an energy storage solution, comparing these reductions with those achieved by traditional energy storage systems. The economic benefits of V2G, including cost savings for both grid operators and electric vehicle owners, will also be evaluated, along with the financial impact of reduced carbon emissions, such as the potential for carbon credits. By the end of this research, students are expected to produce a comprehensive report that not only details the environmental impacts of V2G technology but also offers a quantitative analysis of emission reductions and an economic evaluation of its benefits. This work will also include a comparative analysis between V2G and other conventional energy storage systems, providing recommendations for the integration of V2G into the energy grid from an LCA perspective.

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The Renewable Energy group have in collaboration with Troms Kraft identified the follow master project proposals for the 2025/2026 akademic semester:

Ishavskraft

Background: Breivka harbor is an important part of Tromsø’s harbor infrastructure and a important industrial zone. There is an increasing need for electricity in this area which will not be possible to cover with todays grid infrastructure (both local and regionally). The current situation is hampering development and the crucial transition from fossil to renewable fuel.

A possible solution could be a micro grid with local energy production, storage and flexible energy consumption. This is not a technical challenge alone. A micro grid also raises as number of regulatory questions within the current legal framework and it would require the development of new business model for energy production and distribution.

“Micro grid Breivika”

Objective:

Develop a concept for local energy production and distribution in Breivika Harbor.

Key topics:

• Technical concept for a micro grid
• Potential for local renewable energy production
• Energy storage
• Buisseness concept
• Regulatory challenges

Troms Kraft Wind

Background: On March 4th, the Norwegian transmission grid operator (TSO) Statnett introduced automated balancing with a 15-minute resolution in imbalance price determination (mFRR EAM). This has caused significant impacts, where we have seen mFRR prices of 5000 EUR/MWh in certain quarters in NO4. This can result in substantial costs for producers who are "on the wrong side," but it also represents a significant revenue opportunity for those who can deliver capacity during these hours.

"The Impact of 15-Minute Imbalance Settlement on Wind Power in NO4 "

Objective:
Analyze how the shift from hourly to 15-minute pricing affects the imbalance costs and operational strategies of wind power producers.

Key topics:

• Variability and forecast errors in wind power
• Imbalance pricing mechanisms
• Revenue and risk implications for producers
• Case study using historical wind production and market data

Company presentations from spring 2024 can be found to the right. Contact Johannes.F.Hojem@uit.no or Yngve.Birkelund@uit.no for help with more information and internal supervisors at UiT.