DTU Offshore Summer School 2026

Subsurface plays an important role in addressing both energy transition and environmental challenges. Beyond storing CO₂ and hydrogen – key technologies for achieving net-zero goals – the subsurface also offers solutions for storing natural gas, thermal energy, produced water, and even mine tailings and nuclear waste in a safe and efficient manner. Together, these diverse storage applications form a growing field of research and practice, known as subsurface storage.

Once a year, DTU Offshore brings together industry professionals, policymakers, and academic experts to exchange knowledge and explore new ideas. Previous editions focused on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS). In 2026, DTU Offshore's summer school expands its scope to encompass the broader spectrum of subsurface storage technologies, which, despite their different objectives, share similar geoscientific, engineering, and societal challenges.

DTU Offshore's Summer School on Subsurface Storage will provide a platform for in-depth discussion of current practices, challenges, and innovations across a wide range of applications, including:

• Carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage
  • Geological CO₂ storage in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, saline aquifers, non-minable coal seams, and basalt formations.
  • Engineered lenses tailored for impure CO₂ streams (e.g., from biogas).
  • Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
• Temporary gas storage (gas buffer)
  • Natural gas or biogas storage in depleted reservoirs, aquifers, and salt caverns.
  • Hydrogen storage in salt caverns, porous rock formations, and engineered caverns.
  • Compressed air energy storage (CAES) in hard rock and salt caverns.
• Liquid waste and industrial fluids
  • Produced water and brine disposal in deep saline formations.
  • Chemical waste storage in engineered repositories.
• Thermal energy storage
  • Aquifer and borehole thermal energy storage (ATES and BTES).
  • Geothermal heat storage in fractured rocks and sedimentary basins.
• Solid waste and materials
  • Nuclear waste storage in deep geological repositories.
  • Mine tailings and slag storage in abandoned or engineered mines.
• Emerging concepts
  • Subsurface hydrogen generation and storage in reactive formations (e.g., microbial conversion or iron-rich zones).
  • Methane hydrate storage in marine sediments.

The 4-day-long program will include lectures, discussions, and field trips. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how subsurface storage contributes to achieving climate goals, promoting circular resource use, and enhancing environmental protection.

The summer school will be conducted in a hybrid format, welcoming students, researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of subsurface storage systems and their role in shaping a sustainable future.

Join us from September 7 to 11, 2026, at DTU - Technical University of Denmark.

Further details regarding registration, speakers, and the full programme will be announced soon.

Get insights into our previous Summer Schools here.