Electricity Market Scholarship 2026 – PhD Candidate

Electricity Market Scholarship 2026 in Norway | Fully Funded PhD

The Electricity Market Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded PhD opportunity at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Norway. The position is designed for highly motivated researchers interested in electricity markets, energy systems, optimization, power engineering and the transition toward low-carbon energy systems.

The PhD candidate will join NTNU's Electricity Markets and Energy System Planning (EMESP) research group within the Department of Electric Energy. The research focuses on how electricity markets are changing as renewable energy, interconnections, electrification, energy storage and flexibility become increasingly important.

The position is a full-time, three-year PhD employment based in Trondheim. The successful candidate will receive a gross annual salary of approximately NOK 550,800, depending on qualifications and seniority, making this a paid doctoral position rather than a conventional unpaid scholarship.

Electricity Market Scholarship 2026 Overview

Category	Details
Scholarship Name	Electricity Market Scholarship 2026
University	Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Country	Norway
Location	Trondheim
Degree Level	PhD
Field	Electricity Markets / Energy Systems
Position	PhD Candidate
Duration	3 Years
Employment	Full-Time
Annual Salary	NOK 550,800
Monthly Salary	Approximately NOK 45,900
Research Group	Electricity Markets and Energy System Planning (EMESP)
Application Deadline	August 31, 2026

The current vacancy was published in June 2026 and has an application deadline of August 31, 2026.

What Is the Electricity Market PhD Position?

Electricity markets are undergoing major changes because of increasing renewable-energy integration, stronger cross-border connections, electrification and the growing use of storage and flexible energy resources.

This PhD project will investigate how future electricity-market designs can support the efficient and secure operation of low-carbon power systems. Particular attention will be given to market coupling, market clearing, capacity allocation, pricing, congestion management and the interaction between electricity markets and physical power-system constraints.

The research will focus particularly on Nordic and European electricity markets and may involve optimization-based market models, scenario analysis and quantitative research methods.

Research Areas

The PhD research can involve several important areas of modern electricity-market research, including:

• Electricity market coupling
• Flow-based market coupling
• Market clearing and optimal pricing
• Cross-border capacity allocation
• Transmission-grid modelling
• Interconnector modelling
• Congestion management
• Zonal electricity pricing
• Energy-system optimization
• Social welfare optimization
• Renewable energy integration
• Electricity market design
• Power-system operation
• Energy transition and low-carbon systems

The project is particularly relevant to applicants interested in the connection between electrical engineering, economics, mathematics, optimization and energy systems.

Benefits of Electricity Market Scholarship 2026

NOK 550,800 Annual Salary

The selected PhD candidate will normally receive a gross annual salary of NOK 550,800, depending on qualifications and seniority. This is equivalent to approximately NOK 45,900 per month before deductions. A statutory 2% contribution to the Norwegian State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

Fully Funded PhD Position

The opportunity is offered as a full-time paid PhD employment for three years. This means candidates receive a salary while completing their doctoral research and training.

Three Years of Research

The standard employment period is three years, with the possibility of additional employment related to career-enhancing activities, subject to the applicable conditions.

Professional Development

The successful candidate will work in an international research environment and participate in research activities, academic training, publications, conferences and other professional activities associated with the PhD project.

Norwegian Language Training

NTNU provides an opportunity for candidates who do not already have Norwegian, Swedish or Danish language skills at A2 level to complete Norwegian-language training.

Employee Benefits

As an NTNU employee, the PhD candidate receives access to employee benefits and discounts, pension benefits through the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund and other workplace advantages.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should have a strong academic background relevant to the PhD project.

The main requirements include:

• A relevant Master's degree in electrical power engineering or economic analysis with strong quantitative skills and specialization in operational research.
• The degree should correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree, including 120 credits at Master's level.
• Master's students may apply, but the Master's degree must be completed and documented before starting the position and no later than autumn 2026.
• A strong academic record, normally equivalent to a B grade or better on the NTNU grading scale.
• Applicants with weaker grades may still be considered if they can demonstrate strong suitability through relevant professional experience or scientific publications.
• Ability to meet the admission requirements for NTNU's doctoral programme.
• English-language proficiency at approximately B2 level or higher.
• Strong quantitative and analytical abilities are highly relevant to the research.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Although not all of these are mandatory, applicants can strengthen their profile through relevant knowledge and experience in:

• Electricity markets
• Energy economics
• Operations research
• Mathematical optimization
• Power-system operation
• Energy-system modelling
• Data analysis
• Scientific programming
• Python
• Julia
• MATLAB or similar tools
• Nordic or European electricity-market regulation

The position particularly suits candidates who enjoy quantitative research and using mathematical or computational models to solve energy-system problems.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the required documents before submitting their application. These include:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts
• Bachelor's degree certificate
• Master's degree certificate
• Master's thesis or thesis draft
• Project outline/research proposal
• Documentation of English proficiency, where required
• Publications or other relevant research work, if available
• Documentation of relevant work experience, if available
• Contact information for three referees
• Diploma supplement or equivalent documentation for degrees obtained outside Norway

The application should clearly explain the applicant's motivation, academic background and suitability for the research project.

Research Proposal

The research proposal is an important part of the application. Applicants should present a clear research direction and demonstrate an understanding of electricity markets and the challenges associated with the energy transition.

The proposal can discuss research questions related to market coupling, electricity-market design, optimization, capacity allocation, congestion management, pricing or other relevant topics.

Applicants should also explain how their academic background and technical skills prepare them for doctoral research in this field.

How to Apply for Electricity Market Scholarship 2026

Applicants should submit their application electronically through the official NTNU/Jobbnorge recruitment system.

Follow these steps:

1. Review the PhD position and research project carefully.
2. Check whether your Master's degree meets the academic requirements.
3. Prepare your CV and academic documents.
4. Prepare a strong cover letter explaining your motivation.
5. Develop your research/project outline.
6. Prepare your Master's thesis or thesis draft.
7. Arrange three academic or professional referees.
8. Prepare English-language proficiency documentation if required.
9. Upload all documents through the online application portal.
10. Submit the application before August 31, 2026.

The current vacancy specifically states that applications must be submitted electronically and that the required attachments form the basis of the assessment.

Electricity Market Scholarship Deadline

The application deadline for the Electricity Market Scholarship 2026 at NTNU is:

August 31, 2026

Applicants should not wait until the final day because preparing academic documents, thesis files, references and language-test documentation can take time.

Why Apply for This PhD in Norway?

This PhD opportunity is particularly attractive for researchers interested in the future of electricity markets and sustainable energy systems.

The research addresses important challenges created by renewable-energy growth, cross-border electricity trading, energy storage and changing market structures. The candidate will also become part of NTNU's EMESP research environment in Trondheim, providing opportunities to work with researchers in electricity markets, power systems and energy planning.

The paid employment structure is another major advantage. Instead of relying only on a traditional scholarship stipend, the successful candidate is employed as a PhD candidate and receives an annual salary together with employee and pension benefits.

Career Opportunities

A PhD in electricity markets and energy-system planning can prepare graduates for careers in:

• Universities and research institutions
• Electricity-market operators
• Energy companies
• Power-system companies
• Government and regulatory organizations
• Energy consulting
• Renewable-energy industries
• Energy-system modelling
• Electricity-market analysis
• Research and development
• Energy policy and planning

The combination of quantitative modelling, electricity-market research and energy-transition expertise can be valuable as power systems become increasingly interconnected and renewable-based.

Final Thoughts

The Electricity Market Scholarship 2026 in Norway is a fully funded, paid PhD opportunity at NTNU for candidates interested in electricity markets, energy systems, optimization and the green energy transition. The successful candidate will receive a NOK 550,800 annual gross salary and join a research group working on important challenges in Nordic and European electricity markets.

Applicants should have a relevant Master's degree, strong quantitative skills, and an interest in electricity-market modelling and optimization. Experience with programming tools such as Python, Julia, or MATLAB can strengthen an application.

The application deadline is August 31, 2026. Interested candidates should prepare their CV, research proposal, academic documents, thesis, and references well before the deadline. Apply Now