Renewable energy is defined as energy coming from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, hydropower, tides, waves, geothermal heat and biomass, which is derived from living or recently living organisms, with wood being the largest biomass source today. All these sources are sustainable, because we can use them today without compromising the ability of future generations to use the same sort of sources.
A global race is on for finding the best sustainable energy solutions, and the energy sector is facing great challenges and large investment needs. You can be among the next generation of engineers to realize the vision of an energy-neutral Europe. This interdisciplinary and flexible programme is internationally oriented and students can be engaged in advanced and challenging research projects.
The programme aims at giving candidates a comprehensive overview of the main areas within renewable energy production, as well as specializing in selected areas important to the energy supply system in Northern Europe.
The programme has a wide range of basic and advanced courses, which are combined in partially overlapping ways, to support the four main areas, so some of the courses are included in more than one area
The Renewable energy area is very wide and includes the course Fluid dynamics and hydro power in the first semester. Together with Power system dynamics and Smart grid, Fluid dynamics gives a very good introduction to the Norwegian electric power system. Also included in the renewable energy area are Thermal energy and bioenergy, which gives you the foundation for fossil-free heat and energy production, with biomass and combustion, heat exchangers, engines and turbines and solar thermal collectors. You also have Wind energy and solar energy and Design and optimization of heat and power systems, which covers combined heat and power systems of today and tomorrow, plant design, simulation and optimization of thermal systems. Finally, there is Solar cells and fuel cells and also Control theory as well as Smart grid systems if you want to specialize in the system part of energy production.
Electricity production systems starts with Fluid dynamics and hydro power, fluid dynamics being important also for wind turbines and heating systems, and Wind energy and solar energy in the first semester. You continue with Power system dynamics, Solar cells and fuel cells and Smart grid systems. Power electronics for renewable energy is also very relevant, covering converters and inverters interfacing various power sources with the network. Again you can add Control theory if you have great interest in energy systems engineering. If you are interested in zero or low emission technologies, Solar cells and fuel cells, combined with a 15 ECTS credit Energy research project can give you a very good introduction to this important future field.
The Industrial applications area starts with Modelling and simulation of mechatronic systems. System modelling and simulation is very important in nearly all parts of an advanced industry. The next courses are Electric drives, covering transformers, motors and drives; and Power electronics for renewable energy. Together with the elective Control theory, you have a good basis for onshore and offshore industry activities.
Energy system design and control have a good theoretical base in all four of the first semester courses. In the second semester, you have Power system dynamics and Design and optimization of heat and power systems. In the third semester, you have Smart grid systems and finally the elective Control theory.
In the third semester, the courses Power electronics for renewable energy and Smart grid systems are mandatory, and there are 15 ECTS available for electives. The range of electives has been extended and is very flexible. We have introduced the Energy research project. This course can be taken with either 7.5 or 15 ECTS credits, and is intended for the candidates who want to specialize in a specific field prior to and continuing into the Master's thesis project. So for electives, in this semester you can choose one of the alternatives below
The electives are Life cycle analysis, Control theory which is very important for all kinds of systems engineering, and finally Corporate Economic Analysis I, for obtaining basic knowledge of cost calculations and business management. Life-cycle assessment is a very important elective. No new infrastructure will ever be built in the future without a comprehensive life-cycle assessment. This goes for roads, bridges and railways, hydro and wind power stations and power lines, factories, mobile systems and base stations etc. This course covers environmental consequences of building and construction with life-cycle analysis, quantification of environmental impacts and development of a more sustainable building and construction industry.
UiA has a solar laboratory where researchers and students work together with relevant research problems. This is also the case for zero-emission technologies, with hydrogen and fuel cells, thermoelectric generators and electrical engineering related to renewable energy and transportation systems. There is also a very advanced laboratory for analysis of biomass and thermo-chemical conversion. In-depth work in these laboratories can also be done in the Energy research project.
The 30 ECTS Master's thesis project is carried out individually or in a group, within a central part of the study programme, where students can specialize on a selected topic within renewable energy.
The Master's thesis project workflow usually includes project planning, problem definition, development of report structure, literature review, method, solution including the application of tools, discussion and presentation of project results. The supervisor may request a four-week prestudy. A short seminar on scientific methods will be arranged, with an overview of the research process including scientific theory, qualitative and quantitative methods, and practical advice for the practical research work including report writing and the fair use of sources. The methods seminar may also contain work with project sketch or draft and project plan for the thesis work.
The Master Thesis is normally offered as a spring term course. On application the Faculty may accept that the Master Thesis is offered in the autumn term provided that the student fullfills the pre-requisites, and that there is vacant capacity among the supervisors.
All regular courses have 7.5 ECTS credits
1. sem | ENE410-G Fluid Dynamics and Hydro Power 7.5 sp | ENE413-G Thermal Energy and Bioenergy 7.5 sp | ENE414-G Wind Energy and Solar Thermal Energy 7.5 sp | MAS416-G Modelling and Simulation of Mechatronic Systems 7.5 sp | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2. sem | ENE411-G Power Systems Dynamics 7.5 sp | ENE412-G Solar Cells and Fuel Cells 7.5 sp | ENE409-G Design and Optimization of Heat and Power Systems 7.5 sp | MAS409-G Electric Motor Drives 7.5 sp | ||||||||
3. sem | ENE505-G Power Electronics for Renewable Energy 7.5 sp | ENE506-G Smartgrid Systems 7.5 sp | Elective Courses | |||||||||
4. sem | ENE500-G Master's Thesis Renewable Energy 30 sp |
On successful completion of the programme, the students have acquired
Knowledge
The student has
Skills
The student can
General competence
The student has
Teaching and working methods on the study programme are detailed in the individual course descriptions.
However, a variety of teaching and learning methods will be used: regular lectures comprise the basic teaching, but individual exercises, group exercises, laboratory work and project work is also important. Many courses include project hand-ins, and reporting and presenting projects will be highly emphasized.
Attendance at regular lectures is not mandatory, but students may be obliged to attend certain parts of a course.
The teaching methods will, in addition to facilitating professional development, also develop the students' abilities in practical problem solving and teamwork. Group projects are important throughout the entire study programme. The projects will train the students in the application of theoretical knowledge and tools, to define and analyse specific issues and to develop new systems and products. Moreover, the group projects will develop the students' skills in teamwork and communication.
The assessment methods are varied and closely related to the work and teaching methods and are detailed in the different course descriptions. Assessment is normally based on written exams, often combined with mandatory project hand-ins and presentations. There is also assessment based on an individual oral examination. In some courses, assessment is based on project work and students' course portfolio. Project work and midterm examinations will form part of the assessment in some courses. In all courses that end with a written examination, all coursework must be successfully completed before the student can take the examination.
The master's thesis is being assessed by one external and one internal examiner.
The Faculty of Engineering and Science has a number of agreements with foreign universities.
University courses abroad may count towards the home degree. Such courses must be approved by UiA. Please contact the programme coordinator.
Normally, student exchange takes place in the third semester. However, it is possible also to do the master¿s thesis abroad.
After successfully completing the master's degree, graduates will be able to move directly into the professional field as a graduate engineer in a range of capacities. The programme qualifies graduates for work in both the industry and the business areas. Prospective employers include energy producers and distribution companies, power-intensive industry, consulting companies, offshore industry, transportation companies and the public sector.
The programme also qualifies the graduates for a career in research, and doctoral studies in engineering in areas related to the specific fields of the master programme. For admission to a doctoral programme, you have to apply for a vacant PhD fellowship and fulfil the admission requirements in question. There are relevant doctoral programs at the University of Agder, Telemark University College (HiT), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), at Aalborg University and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Denmark and at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Chalmers University and Linköping University in Sweden, as well as many other institutions.
Master of Science in Renewable Energy
Study programme evaluation is conducted annually in the programme committee in accordance with the Quality System, section 4.2. Before the meeting of the study programme committee, the student representative may obtain suggestions and ideas from fellow students.
For further information, please contact Programme coordinator Joao Leal
mail: post at uia.no
phone + 47 3814 1000
120
Full time
Grimstad
Faculty of Engineering and Science