By Niels Landbo Krogh, AAU Kommunikation & Public Affairs. Photo: AAU.
Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Kommunikation & Public Affairs

Aalborg University in Esbjerg (AAU) has received the largest single grant in the history of the campus. With DKK 22 million from the Just Transition Fund which is co-financed by the European Union, the C-TECH project will build a flexible test environment where both students and companies can be trained in the green technologies of the future.

Esbjerg's role in the green transition

Esbjerg is in the midst of a historic transition. From being the centre of Danish oil and gas production, the city will now play a key role in the green energy transformation. With the C-TECH project, Aalborg University in Esbjerg is taking a significant step in that direction.

The new test site not only focuses on green technology; what plays an even bigger role is the upskilling of people to use it: Students and companies will build up competencies in CO₂ capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) as well as Power-to-X where green electricity is converted into hydrogen and synthetic fuels. The grant from the Just Transition Fund is an investment in the workforce of the future and in Esbjerg's role as an energy power hub in Denmark.

The test environment will be modular and flexible, built with containers that enable it to adapt to needs and the latest technologies. The facility will ensure that both research and business can move quickly, in concert. The goal is to accelerate the green system transition and create lasting value for both the region and the climate.

A platform for collaboration and development

C-TECH will not only be a temporary platform for development and learning. The project is designed to create a permanent infrastructure that can support future collaborations between AAU and industry. The container solution makes it possible to replace technologies in line with developments, and the test site will serve as neutral framework where both small and major players can access knowledge, facilities and networks.

"We wanted to create an environment where companies and students can come together on specific technologies and new research, not just today, but also in five and ten years' time," says Dennis Severin Hansen, Assistant Professor at AAU Energy Esbjerg and coordinator of the project along with Mads Valentin Bram, Associate Professor. 

"The test site enables the transition from theory to practice, creating the best competencies," adds Mads Valentin Bram.

The project brings together researchers, educators and business people on a common goal: To accelerate the green system transition and create lasting impact. The first modules are expected to be used during 2027, and the ambition is for C-TECH to contribute to strengthening both the pace of innovation and competence development throughout the sector.