Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets
Sustainable Energy
We will not accept any new applicants for the main profile Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets. Last intake to this main profile was autumn 2021. We do prepare for a last cohort of TU Berlin students arriving to do their second year at NTNU autumn 2022/spring 2023.
Study Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets
The main profile in Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets (SESAM) gives you a broad and thorough understanding of energy systems and markets. The main profile's focus is on the large-scale integration and management of renewable energy.
The main profile considers the broader societal and policy context as well as other relevant boundary conditions. This context includes:
- the regulatory framework
- climate and environmental issues
- requirements and needs of stakeholders
- the supply side including renewable generation
- the demand side
- including industrial
- household demand.
Moreover, this main profile contains a mix of energy technology, management and economics courses. You will acquire knowledge from several disciplines and learn to master complex issues related to the energy system.
After graduation, you will be able to design, analyse, and optimize energy systems and markets with large shares of renewables and provide decision support to the actors therein.
Study at two universities
SESAM is a double degree program by NTNU and TU Berlin. The partner program at TU Berlin is Industrial Engineering and Management - Energy and Resources (IEM-ER).
You will take one year (60 ECTS) at TU Berlin and one year (60 ECTS) at NTNU. You will receive a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy from NTNU and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management with a focus on Energy and Resources from TU Berlin.
Program Structure
The Fall semester including exam period at NTNU runs from August to December and the Spring semester from January to June. The Winter semester at TU Berlin runs from October to February and the Summer semester from April to July.
A twelve-week industry or research internship is mandatory to obtain the dual degree.
We recommend that take the first year at NTNU, the internship in the summer between the first and second year and the second year at TU Berlin.
To guarantee that you acquire the desired knowledge breadth and depth and to ensure that program requirements for both TUB and NTNU will be met. We present a largely mandatory program. You must take minimum 60 ECTS in both NTNU and TU Berlin.
You can find more information about the programme structure in the study plan.
Learning objectives
As an MSc student specializing in Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets you will acquire advanced knowledge and analytical skills about energy systems and markets and the actors and elements therein. The SESAM/IEM-ER program takes a holistic perspective on issues concerning the development of the energy system, particularly considering the transition to a sustainable energy system and the integration of large shares of renewable energy supply. Relevant topics are energy and electricity system design, simulation and optimization, economic, environmental and climate policy, and the assessment of impacts and risks connected to the energy system in the context of the broader economy and society.
In your research projects and Master’s thesis you can select topics broadly connected to aforementioned issues depending on your own background and interests. Many students will develop or extend quantitative models which will be used for analysis and/or optimization. The SESAM program will prepare you for a wide range of positions, for instance in industry, research, education or public administration or continued education in a PhD program.
Upon completion of the two-year SESAM master program, you will have acquired a range of knowledge, skills and competences.
The MSc graduate in Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets has:
- broad knowledge of the energy system and energy markets, and good theoretical and practical insight into methods used to obtain and apply this knowledge.
- state of art knowledge about various methodological and analytic approaches that are used within energy systems and markets.
- knowledge of the relationships and interactions between actors and (infrastructure) elements in energy systems, energy markets and broader society and climate, and how aspects such as market design and regulatory framework affect those relationships and interactions.
- knowledge of how different types of renewable energy are likely to affect the energy system, and how these can be managed to the benefit the entire energy system.
The MSc graduate in Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets is able to:
- independently carry out a complete scientific work process, including understanding the theoretical background, hypothesis generation, collection and analysis of data, and interpretation and presentation of results.
- evaluate critically methods and results within the field of energy system and energy markets.
- evaluate and apply relevant theory, methods, and analytic approaches within the specialized field of energy systems, including mathematical programming methods.
- to analyze relevant issues in energy systems and markets.
- implement knowledge from several research fields and disciplines.
The MSc graduate in Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets:
- has multidisciplinary project experience within selected topics related to energy systems and markets and the ability to collaborate and contribute in a multidisciplinary team.
- is able to work both independently or in groups on complex projects that require collaboration across disciplines.
- can communicate scientific results to the general public and experts by writing well-structured reports and contributions for scientific publications and posters, and by oral presentations.