New Research Center in Energy and Climate Economics at Aarhus BSS

Fostering knowledge about the energy markets and their importance to the green transition is needed. Therefore, Aarhus University is now establishing a brand-new center, which will conduct research into the dynamics of the global energy markets and the possibilities for accelerating the development of climate-neutral energy systems.  

The center will be colloquially referred to as CoRE, while the official name is Center for Research in Energy: Economics and Markets. 

"Energy consumption is a critical component of the global economy but also one of the main causes of climate change. If we are to succeed with the green transition and a more sustainable energy consumption, it is absolutely crucial that we have in-depth understanding of the mechanisms in those markets, where the energy is converted and traded. We now want to make this a strategic investment area at the department," says Niels Haldrup, current Head of Department and future Head of Center at CoRE. 

Through our research and education, we can contribute to maintaining and increasing employment in Denmark and not least in the East Jutland area for our talented graduates and thus contribute to growth and development

^{Professor and Head of Department Niels Haldrup, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University.} 

Knowledge intensive industry 

Danish energy trading companies are growing, and expectations to increase the global market share are high. InCommodities is among the largest Danish energy trading company, and, like several other energy traders, it is headquartered in Aarhus. 

"It is perfectly natural to position a research center like CoRE at Aarhus BSS. Both our master’s and PhD students are an important recruitment target group for the entire energy industry, which is very knowledge-intensive and deeply dependent on highly trained, specialized labor. Through our research and education, we can contribute to maintaining and increasing employment in Denmark and not least in the East Jutland area for our talented graduates and thus contribute to growth and development," Haldrup says. 

Mastery, research and development are at the very core of what we do. We need both the necessary knowledge and competencies for our sector to thrive and develop.

^{CEO Jesper Severin Johanson, InCommodities}   

Key role 

Jesper Severin Johanson, CEO of InCommodities, agrees that a center like CoRE can play a key role in educating the experts that the energy trading sector needs. 

"As energy traders, we play a crucial role in connecting sustainable energy sources to the market. Our DNA is rooted in academic disciplines - mastery, research and development are at the very core of what we do. We need both the necessary knowledge and competencies for our sector to thrive and develop. We see the donation to CoRE as an investment in a sustainable future. It is also an investment in expanding our recruitment opportunities for the Danish sector, which is growing rapidly. We are very happy to be able to give something back to Aarhus University, which already plays a key role for us," says Jesper Severin Johanson, who also emphasizes the importance of research in the energy sector. 

"The global energy markets are crucial to both the green transition and our energy security. But the markets are also complex, and there is a lack of knowledge that can equip us to make the right decisions in a future where more sustainable energy sources gain ground - with increased complexity as a result. That's why we need research and education on a completely different level than before," Jesper Severin Johanson says. 

By combining the tradition of econometric and financial modeling at Aarhus University with industry expertise and knowledge of data, CoRE has world-class potential.

^{Professor Allan Timmermann, University of California, San Diego}

International view 

Both Aarhus BSS and InCommodities expect that the center can attract leading Danish and international researchers in global energy, environmental and climate economics that focus on quantitative method and model development. 

Allan Timmermann, professor of economics at the University of California, has already agreed to join as an international fellow at CoRE. He emphasizes the significant impact that provision and pricing of energy have on the Danish economy. 

"In recent years, Aarhus has established itself as a hub for sophisticated energy trading. Many professionals in the sector have been educated at Aarhus University. By combining the tradition of econometric and financial modeling at Aarhus University with industry expertise and knowledge of data, CoRE has world-class potential in research on energy markets,” Timmermann says. 

The Center for Research in Energy: Economics and Markets will officially launch on January 1st, 2024, and the donation from InCommodities will initially run until 2028.