Sustainable Energy Geoscience MSc

Sustainable energy is a rapidly developing area of research and technological innovation in the UK. Geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS), in particular, are central components of the UK government’s strategy for reducing greenhouse emissions and reaching net-zero by 2050.

This programme draws on the exceptional expertise within the Department of Geology and Geophysics to equip students with the subsurface skills required for the rapidly evolving energy transition sector.

Our understanding of subsurface workflows and resources is critical to many of the new clean energy technologies associated with the energy transition, such as geothermal energy, carbon capture storage and the growing demand for critical minerals needed to produce clean technologies such as wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles.

At the heart of this programme is a focus on developing a strong technical understanding of rocks and fluids in the subsurface, and how to model, monitor and verify their presence using geophysical, petrophysical and other techniques. This knowledge is then applied to a wide range of low carbon energy solutions including sustainable mineral extraction, geothermal flow and subsurface storage.

We place a strong focus on geoscience interpretation and the high-demand skills needed for both present-day and future energy extraction and storage scenarios. In addition, you will examine the societal implications of the energy transition, including social justice, global dynamics and sustainability goals.

This MSc draws on much of the ground-breaking research being conducted within the Centre for Energy Transition (CET), in areas such as geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, nuclear waste storage and critical materials for the energy transition.

Why Study Sustainable Energy Geoscience?

Aberdeen is regarded as a world-leading hub for energy expertise, with organisations such as the Centre for Energy Transition, the Net Zero Technology Centre, the Energy Transition Zone, the National Decommissioning Centre and the Global Underwater Hub deploying the tremendous R&D expertise built up over the last 40 years in oil and gas to fast track the development and deployment of wind, tidal, hydrogen, geothermal, and carbon capture storage technologies.
This MSc draws on much of the ground-breaking research being conducted within the Centre for Energy Transition and the Department of Geology and Geophysics, in our doctoral training programmes in QUADRAT and the GeoNetZero CDT and through Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage, ClimateXChange, and UKRI funding and industry partnerships.

Careers

The MSc Sustainable Energy Geoscience aims to equip students with the subsurface skills required for the rapidly evolving energy transition sector across multiple themes relating to energy extraction and storage. The skills-based approach will also prepare students for complementary roles such as data analytics and policy.

Energy companies are diversifying their portfolios to include low carbon energies and technologies such as offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. A number of large-scale low carbon projects are now underway in the UK and around the World, and projects are expected to expand as we move towards a net-zero economy. The UK government expects 220,000 positions will be required to support the energy transition in the UK over the next 10 years.

Our minimum entry requirement for this programme is a Geology or Geophysics degree at 2:1 (upper second class) UK Honours level (or an Honours degree from a non-UK institution which is judged by the University to be of equivalent worth). Evidence of high marks in the following key subjects is important for admission: Evidence of creative thinking, data synthesis, teamwork, problem-solving. As well as key technical geological skills.