Postdoc in Techno-Economic Assessment of CO2 Hub Development and CCUS Integration

The Center for Life Cycle Engineering (SDU LCE) at the Department of Green Technology University of Southern Denmark (SDU) invites applications for a 2.5-year Postdoctoral Researcher position focusing on techno-economic optimization and feasibility assessment of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) integration and CO2 hub development at Nybro Denmark.

Starting date: June 1st 2026.

Job Description

The position is part of SDU LCEs strategic research agenda on net-zero energy systems carbon management and CCUS infrastructure development. The postdoc will lead advanced modelling and techno-economic analyses of a potential CO2 hub at Nybro with a particular focus on:

• Symbiosis between data centers and solid sorbent direct air capture (DAC) systems
• Integration of DAC facilities with existing gas infrastructure
• Feasibility of connecting Nybro to offshore CO2 storage

The postdoc will collaborate with several involved industrial partners.

The location at Nybro offers unique infrastructure advantages:

• High voltage-electricity grid enabling GW-scale data center deployment
• Existing natural gas pipelines
• Potential for Mt-scale CO2 transport and storage
• Strategic positioning for centralized CO2 conditioning and liquefaction.

The project will investigate how waste heat from data centers can be utilized to reduce the operational expenditure of DAC through heat integration potentially upgraded via heat pumps. Surplus heat may also be supplied to local greenhouses district heating networks strengthening the socio-economic value of the symbiosis.

SDU Life Cycle Engineering

The successful candidate will be affiliated with SDU Life Cycle Engineering (SDU LCE) at the University of Southern Denmarks main campus in Odense. Odense is a fast-growing international city with an open Scandinavian culture and affordable living costs. SDU LCE is a rapidly expanding research center with a strong international profile in net-zero transition and sustainable energy systems. The center conducts cutting-edge research on integrated energy system design extending beyond traditional energy systems to include CO2 management land-use constraints sustainable biomass utilization sector coupling and CCUS integration. SDU LCE is primarily externally funded and actively engaged in numerous strategic research projects supported by the EU national innovation programs private companies and NGOs. Within SDU LCE the research group focusing on net-zero transitions renewable integration defossilization of energy systems CO2 infrastructure development biomass availability and sector coupling is experiencing significant growth. The group combines techno-economic modelling system optimization and infrastructure planning to address real-world decarbonization challenges at regional national and international levels.

For more information about SDU LCE please visit and Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in Energy Engineering Chemical Engineering Environmental Engineering or a related field and strong expertise in CCUS point source carbon capture & DAC systems and techno-economic modelling. The successful candidate will take a leading role in developing integrated technical socio-economic and business case assessments for DACdata center symbiosis and CO2 hub development. The work will involve:

• Mapping and modelling technical configurations (both component and system levels) for DACdata center integration including heat recovery and heat pump solutions
• Quantifying CO2 capture rates system efficiencies and levelized cost of captured CO2
• Conducting user-economic analysis to evaluate the cost implications for data center services
• Developing business cases under multiple socio-economic carbon price scenarios
• Assessing the influence of scale on hub feasibility
• Evaluating centralized CO2 conditioning and liquefaction at Nybro
• Estimating breakeven costs for CO2 suppliers
• Conducting comparative assessments against alternative CO2 transport options (e.g. shipping from CO2 terminals)
• Publishing high-impact scientific articles and contributing to proposal development
• Engaging with industrial infrastructure and policy stakeholders
• Co-supervising master and PhD students

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong experience in techno-economic modelling and system optimization
• Solid understanding of CCUS
• Experience with energy system modelling and scenario analysis
• A strong publication record relative to career stage
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Familiarity with optimization tools
• Ability to work independently and lead scientific tasks
• Programming skills (preferably Python) will be considered an advantage.
• Experience with infrastructure economics carbon markets or large-scale energy infrastructure planning will be considered an advantage.

Conditions of Employment

Employment will be based on the terms specified in the labor market agreement and the salary is negotiable. For further information regarding the position please contact Associate Professor Hossein Nami at tel.: 45 email:.

If you experience technical problems please contactour email support.

About the team

The postdoc fellow will work in the SDU Life Cycle Engineering (SDU LCE) center at the Department of Green Technology. The main supervisor will be Associate Professor Hossein Nami and co-supervision will be provided by Professor Henrik Wenzel.

Application

Applicants areadvised to readtheSDU information on how to apply.

Assessment of thecandidatesis based on the application material andtheapplication must

include:

• Motivated application.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Masters and PhD degree certificatesor equivalent (original and anofficial English translation).
• Complete list of publications.
• Publicationsmostrelevanttothe position.
• Summaryand documentationof experience in teaching if relevant to the position.

All documents must be in English and PDF format. CPR number (civil registration number) must be crossed out. AllPDF-filesmust be unlockedallow binding and may not be password protected.

SUBMISSIONGUIDE: Motivated applicationmust beuploadedunderCover letter (max. 5 MB) Curriculum VitaemustbeuploadedunderResume (max 5 MB). All other documentsmustbe uploadedunderMiscellaneous documents (max 10 fileswith amaximum50 MBper file).

The application deadline isMarch 31st 2026at 11:59 PM/23:59 (CET/CEST).

Assessment and selection process

Applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. Shortlisting may be applied andonly shortlisted candidates will receive a written assessment.Read about shortlisting at and tests may be part of theoverall evaluation.

Read about theAssessment and selection process.

Conditions of employment

Appointment asapostdoc is temporary foran initial2.5-yearperiod and the preferred start date is fromJune 1st 2026.

Employment as a postdoc requiresacademicqualifications at PhD level at the time of will bein accordance withthecollectiveagreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associationsfor academics in the state including the associated circular on the protocol for the job structure for academic staff at Danish universities and the provisions for postdoc as described therein.

Further information on salary and in the position may based on a specific individual managerialassessment be exempted fromtimeregistration also known as aself-organizer.

The University of Southern Denmark wishesitsstaffto reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone regardless of personal background to apply for the position. SDU conducts research in critical technologies which due to the risk of unwanted knowledge transferissubject toa number ofsecurity measures. Therefore based on information from open sources background checks may be conducted on candidates for the position(s).

Further informationfor international applicants about entering and working in Denmark. You may also visitWorkinDenmarkforadditionalinformation.

Further informationaboutThe Faculty of Engineering.