Global leader in climate research
NTNU is one of Europe’s top research centres on carbon capture and storage.
In a global ranking of the universities that focus most on climate change research, NTNU is among the top universities in Europe.
The ranking looked at different universities’ commitment to climate research, with an emphasis on research into carbon capture and storage (CCS). CCS is considered one of the most important tools in the fight against climate change.
The rating highlights leading universities in different parts of the world; in the European section NTNU shared the list with the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Newcastle University and the University of Oxford.
Three European universities were ranked in the top ten in a global context. These were Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh and University College London. The others in the top ten are all American universities, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in first place.
Global CCS Institute
The rating was published on the website decarboni.se, operated by the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute. The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute is an independent, non-profit company with 370 members from 40 countries. The members consist of universities, research institutions, global companies and environmental organizations.
The institute works on promoting the exchange of knowledge and advice on CCS and to increase the commercial opportunities for CCS.
NTNU’s emphasis on energy and carbon capture
NTNU’s clear commitment to energy and carbon capture research was recognized by the website ranking, particularly the fact that
ECCSEL – a shared European infrastructure for research into carbon capture and storage – is headquartered at NTNU. NTNU has been responsible for leading the planning and design of the European infrastructure, and the Norwegian government has allocated NOK 100 million to upgrade laboratories at the university.
The ranking also recognizes the many research groups and university departments at NTNU that are working on climate-related issues, including CenSES – the national research centre for sustainable energy studies. Six of NTNU’s seven faculties are engaged in energy-related research:
• 30 participating departments with a total of 61 disciplines.
• NTNU and SINTEF have developed nearly 30 unique laboratories representing an investment of at least NOK 500 million.
• NTNU is heavily involved in five national research centres for green energy.
• NTNU coordinates a centre for research-based innovation in energy: Center for Integrated Operations in the Petroleum Industry.
