Kristina Solberg
From Infrastructure Engineering to Renewable Energy
Kristina Solberg came to ISE after an established career in civil engineering and infrastructure development in the United States. Her experience included work on highways, rail and port projects, but she wanted to move her career toward renewable energy.
Without a professional background in the energy sector, Kristina saw postgraduate study as a way to build the technical knowledge and experience needed to make that transition.
“I knew I wanted to get into renewable energy, I wanted a different experience.”
After discovering the Iceland School of Energy, Kristina chose the MSc Sustainable Energy Science programme and moved to Iceland to begin a new direction in her career.
Building a new energy focus
At ISE, Kristina combined her engineering background with new work in geothermal energy, waste-to-energy and energy systems.
Her thesis research explored how low-temperature geothermal resources could be combined with the incineration of non-recyclable solid waste. The project was connected with Reykjavík University researchers and supported through work involving SORPA and the Sustainability Institute and Forum.
The project also pushed her into areas that were new to her, including thermodynamic modelling and Python.
Learning beyond the classroom
Kristina’s studies also included exposure to industry and research beyond Reykjavík. Her thesis work took her to a waste-to-energy conference in Stockholm, while another study trip introduced students to energy companies and infrastructure in Germany and Austria.
She also valued the collaborative environment at Reykjavík University, particularly learning alongside classmates with different technical and professional backgrounds.
A different route into energy
Kristina’s story shows that studying at ISE does not have to be the beginning of a career. It can also be a way to redirect an existing one. Her background in civil engineering and infrastructure gave her a foundation to build from, while her studies at ISE allowed her to explore geothermal energy, waste-to-energy and new analytical tools as she moved toward the renewable-energy sector.
