The Programme brings together expertise in subsea engineering, digital systems, energy infrastructure, and materials to support the transition from traditional oil and gas operations toward integrated energy systems that combine hydrocarbons, electrification, hydrogen, and carbon management.
Our research focuses on whole-system integration, recognising that future energy solutions must operate across multiple energy vectors, asset lifecycles, and regulatory frameworks while maintaining reliability in harsh marine environments.
Research Focus Areas
Offshore & Subsea Energy System Integration
Design and optimisation of integrated offshore energy systems, including subsea power distribution, electrification of assets, and hybrid energy architectures linking renewable and conventional sources.
Hydrogen & Emerging Energy Vectors
Research into hydrogen production, transport, storage, and utilisation in offshore and subsea settings, with particular emphasis on system safety, materials compatibility, and operational reliability.
Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS)
Subsea and offshore infrastructure for CO₂ transport, injection, and long-term storage, including integrity management, monitoring technologies, and lifecycle assessment.
Advanced Materials
Advancing next‑generation materials for subsea and marine sectors, focusing on lightweight composites, smart materials, advanced coatings, and sustainable manufacturing to enhance performance, resilience, high‑impact industrial innovation, and societal benefits.
Digitalisation & Systems Engineering
Application of digital twins, data-driven modelling, and AI-enabled decision tools to improve energy system design, integration, and operational performance across complex asset portfolios.
Asset Integrity, Reliability & Lifecycle Performance
Whole-life performance assessment of integrated energy assets, including condition monitoring, degradation modelling, and risk-based maintenance strategies.
Safety, Human Factors & Psychological Resilience
Research into offshore and subsea safety practices, human factors, and psychological challenges, including workload, fatigue, situational awareness, trust in automation, and wellbeing in high-risk, remote, and autonomous operational environments.
Industry and Societal Impact
The Integrated Energy Programme delivers direct impact for industry, policymakers, and society by:
- Supporting the energy transition of offshore regions while safeguarding energy security
- Reducing cost, emissions, and operational risk through system-level optimisation
- Enabling re-use and repurposing of existing offshore infrastructure
- Accelerating deployment of net-zero-aligned technologies at industrial scale
- Developing skills and workforce capability for integrated energy systems
The Programme works closely with industry to ensure research outcomes are deployable, scalable, and aligned with regulatory and commercial realities.
Facilities and Collaboration
The Integrated Energy Programme is underpinned by access to specialist laboratories, digital modelling platforms, and test facilities across NSC and its partners, including:
- Subsea systems and flow assurance laboratories
- Hydrogen and energy systems testing infrastructure
- Advanced sensing, monitoring, and control platforms
- High-performance computing and digital twin environments
NSC collaborates extensively with:
- Offshore energy operators and supply-chain SMEs
- Technology developers and OEMs
- Government and innovation agencies
- Academic partners within the UK and internationally
These collaborations ensure the Programme remains industry-relevant, interdisciplinary, and impact-driven.
Find out more
Learn more about collaborative research opportunities at the National Subsea Centre: