NEEDS Workshop 20–21 November 2025

The NEEDS brings together researchers from across the Nordic region working at the intersection of energy economics, climate policy, and decarbonization strategies. It provides a collaborative forum to foster the development, critical appraisal, and dissemination of research that supports the energy transition in the Nordics.

The workshop places particular emphasis on applied microeconomic and policy-oriented research in energy markets. We welcome theoretical and empirical contributions in areas such as industrial organization, environmental and public economics, electricity markets, energy system modeling, and decarbonization policies.

The workshop runs over one and a half days and features research presentations by early career researchers (a late-stage PhD student, postdoctoral fellow, or assistant professor), each paired with a senior academic discussant from a Nordic institution. Each paper is allocated 40 minutes, including a presentation by the author, discussion, and open floor Q&A. The academic keynote will be delivered by Professor Lassi Ahlvik (University of Helsinki). The program also includes a panel discussion with representatives from industry and policy institutions.

In case of any questions, do not hesitate to contact the local organizers:

Ritvana Rrukaj: ritvana.rrukaj@nmbu.no

Kirsti Pettersen: kirsti.pettersen@nmbu.no

• Program 20-21 November

  Download program (PDF)

  NMBU: Workshop Room: T401, Tower Building, 4th floor. Christian Magnus Falsens vei 30, Ås. MazeMap

  Day 1 / 20 November

  09:30 – 10:00 Registration

  10:00 – 10:15

  Welcome

  By Casper Claudi Rasmussen, Dean of School of Economics and Business, NMBU

  10:15 – 12:15

  Session 1: Electricity Market Design and Policy Impacts
  Moderated by Ritvana Rrukaj (NMBU)
  (Each paper: 20 min presentation, 10 min discussion, 10 min Q&A)

  • Watt’s fair? Distribution and energy savings in electricity compensation schemes Presenter: Nina Bruvik Westberg (CICERO). Discussant: Johannes Mauritzen (Lyse)
  • Estimating Energy Trading Profits for Storage Resources in Nodal Electricity Markets: A Decision Tree Method Presenter: Benjamin P. Fram (NHH). Discussant: Mads Greaker (OsloMet)
  • Pricing transmission network and generation unit operating constraints in the European wholesale electricity market Presenter: Akseli V𝑎̈liviita (Aalto University). Discussant: Mette Bjørndal (NHH)

  12:15 – 13:15 Lunch

  13:15 – 16:05

  Session 2: Sustainability, Innovation, and Green Transition
  Moderated by Knut Einar Rosendahl (NMBU)
  (Each paper: 20 min presentation, 10 min discussion, 10 min Q&A)

  • • Pricing transmission network and generation unit operating constraints in the European wholesale electricity market Presenter: Arttu Ahonen (Umeå Uni.). Discussant: Katinka Kristine Holtsmark (UiO)
  • • Navigating the Green Path: Unveiling the Financial Impact of Green Management Presenter: Niaz Bashiri Behmiri (NHH).Discussant: Snorre Kverndokk (Frischsenteret)

  14:35 – 14:45 Coffee

  • • Identity and Barriers in Farmers’ Adoption of Fossil-Free Energy Practices: A Hybrid Item Response Theory Approach Presenter: Nasir Adam (SLU). Discussant: Frode Alfnes (NMBU)
  • • Systemic Readiness, Core and Enabling Renewable Energy Innovation: Exploring Mediation, Moderation, and Dynamic Causality Presenter: Mohammad Rakib Uddin Bhuiyan (Linköping Uni). Discussant: Gunnar Eskeland (NHH)

  16:05 – 16:30 Coffee

  16:30 – 17:30

  Keynote Moderated by Knut Einar Rosendahl (NMBU)

  • Lassi Ahlvik, Professor in Environmental Economics (University of Helsinki)

  17:50 Participants can take Bus 510 from NMBU bus stop to the dinner venue.

  18:30 Dinner: Thon Hotel Ski Restaurant

  Day 2 / 21 November

  09:30 – 10:30

  Panel on Energy Market Outlook: Strategy, Systems, and Research
  Moderated by Ritvana Rrukaj (NMBU) and Benjamin P. Fram (NHH)

  • Julien Cosse, Chief Strategy Officer (Nord Pool)
  • Martine Moe Winsnes, Senior Vice President Long Term System Development (Statnett SF)
  • Torjus Bolkesjø, Chief Analyst and Head of Global Energy Market Analysis (Statkraft)
  • Lassi Ahlvik, Professor in Environmental Economics (University of Helsinki)

  10:30 – 11:00 Coffee

  11:00 – 13:00

  Session 3: Prosumers, Households, and Equity in Energy Transitions
  Moderated by Erlend Dancke Sandorf (NMBU)
  (Each paper: 20 min presentation, 10 min discussion, 10 min Q&A)

  • Solar PV adoption, self-sufficiency and electricity sharing in times of geopolitical turbulence – the case of Swedish house owners Presenter: Gabrielle Söderberg (Umeå University). Discussant: Leif K. Sandal (NHH)
  • Value-driven energy prosumerism: Toward an integrated understanding of peer-to-peer energy trading adoption Presenter: Juliana Jia Yu Zhang (UiO). Discussant: Kristin Linnerud (MINA)
  • From Flat Rates to Multi-Block Tariffs: Assessing Equity in Central Asian Electricity Pricing Presenter: Akylai Muktarbek Kyzy (NMBU). Discussant: Olvar Bergland (NMBU)

  13:00 – 13:15 Closing of Workshop By Knut Einar Rosendahl and Ritvana Rrukaj

  13:15 – Lunch

• Venue

  NMBU – Norwegian University of Life Sciences
  Address: Chr. Magnus Falsens vei 30, 1433 Ås, Norway
  Room: T401, Tower Building (Tårnbygningen), 4th floor

  Mazemap

• Accommodation

  Thon Hotel Ski
  Jernbaneveien 8, 1400 Ski, Norway
  Located next to Ski train station.

• How to Reach NMBU

  From Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) to Oslo S (Central Station)

  Option A: Take Flytoget (airport express train) – price approx. NOK 258 one way, travel time ~ 20 minutes. For tickets use the Flytoget mobile app or purchase at ticket machines in the arrivals hall at the airport.

  Option B: Take a Vy regional train – price approx. NOK 129, travel time ~ 23 minutes. For tickets use the Vy mobile app or purchase at ticket machines in the arrivals hall at the airport.

  From Oslo S (Central Station) to Ski

  From Oslo S you continue with Vy’s local or commuter trains, such as R21, R22, or L2, to Ski. The trip takes about 11 minutes. If you arrived at Oslo S on a Vy regional train, you only need to add Zone 2S to your ticket. If you used Flytoget, you will need to buy a new ticket via the Vy or Ruter apps, covering Zone 1 and Zone 2S. Ticket cost NOK 72 for this leg.

  So total time: ~ 30 - 40 minutes from airport to Ski (including transfer at Oslo S).

  From Ski to Ås / NMBU

  Option A: Train + walking / short bus
  From Ski station you can continue to Ås station by taking the Vy commuter train (line R21). The journey takes around four minutes. If you purchase a 24-hour ticket, it will be valid for travel within both Ski and Ås, and you only need Zone 2S. From Ås station you can either walk about 10–15 minutes to NMBU or take the local bus 510, which stops at Universitetet i Ås, located right by the campus.

  Option B: Direct bus from Ski to NMBU

  Bus line 510 departs from Ski stasjon (Jernbaneveien) and goes directly to Universitetet i Ås / NMBU. The journey takes about 16–20 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in the Vy or Ruter apps by selecting only Zone 2S, which costs NOK 44 for a single journey or NOK 132 for a 24-hour ticket.

  Once you arrive at the “Universitetet i Ås” / NMBU bus stop, it is about a five-minute walk to Tårnbygningen (the Tower Building). The workshop will take place in Room T401 on the 4th floor.

  The Tower Building in the background:

  

Call for Papers (deadline September 5)