Advanced Practical Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Implementation

As part of this elective, students will have the opportunity to participate in the one-week, on-campus time during the spring semester in Berlin, Germany. Attending the on-campus period is a mandatory part of the elective.

Details

Who:	Students in the 2nd or 4th semester
When:	Spring semester
Where:	On-campus time: Berlin, Germany at Renewables Academy (RENAC) and at Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT). Online: additional sessions covering theoretical concepts after on-campus week.
Costs:	Participation in the on-campus time is covered by the semester fee. Costs for travel, travel and health insurance, accommodation, and personal expenses are not included.
Note:	We reserve the right to replace on-campus time with a virtual concept if necessary.

On-campus curriculum

Lectures on concepts and theories related to renewable energy technology
Practical training sessions working directly with the technology and a field trip
Presentation of students’ backgrounds and future goals
Project profitability and financing: own project calculations
Group assignment

BENEFITS OF ON-CAMPUS TIME

Hone your skills with hands-on training
Deepen your understanding of renewable energy projects through a site visit
Networking opportunities with peers and experts

TRAINING SESSIONS

PHOTOVOLTAICS

For technical exercises, students use standard instruments to analyse PV system functionality. The session covers PV module configurations and electrical characteristics. Students examine the effects of angles, orientation, shade, and temperature on PV module performance, system planning, design, installation, and simulation using standard software.

SOLAR THERMAL

The RENAC Training Centre houses several working solar thermal rigs. Students use these rigs to become familiar with systems and their components. These rigs are also used for fault-finding and/or commissioning procedures. Students get the opportunity to work with solar thermal controllers and to perform system simulations with solar thermal software as well.

WIND ENERGY

For practical training in wind-energy-based technology, students perform a variety of practical exercises with the help of milliwatt Windtrainers. Exercises include measuring wind speed as well as the power output of a wind turbine and how this depends on wind speed. Students will see how the power output of the wind turbine depends on the number, position, shape, and angle of the rotors as well as on measuring characteristic curves of a wind turbine (current/voltage), plus charge and discharge of storage.

Blended Learning

Fees and funding

Pre-check

On-campus Lecturers

Mr. Volker Jaensch

Learning unit:
Bioenergy

CURRENT POSITION

Volker Jaensch joined Renewables Academy (RENAC) AG in August 2010. As Project Director, he is responsible for the areas of bioenergy, financing and climate change mitigation as well as for the design and implementation of renewable energy training centers. Furthermore, Mr. Jaensch is involved in wind energy and energy efficiency projects and trainings.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mr. Jaensch has ten years of professional experience in project development, due diligence, financing and implementation of renewable energy projects with a focus on biomass and wind energy (at daughter companies of Veolia Environment and Gamesa Energia). He also has gained experience in the political arena of renewable energy at the German Energy Agency (dena).

Before joining RENAC, Mr. Jaensch was active for four years in the development and implementation of sustainable Carbon Credit generating projects (according to the Kyoto Protocol and the Gold Standard) in developing countries.

EDUCATION

Mr. Jaensch holds degrees in Environmental Engineering and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

show more show less

Mr. Albrecht Tiedemann

Learning unit:
Wind energy, grid integration

CURRENT POSITION

Albrecht Tiedemann is the project director at the Renewables Academy (RENAC) AG since 2009. He manages the CapREG Program “Capacity Development on Renewable Energy and Grid Integration” for professionals from different countries working in the public and private energy sector.

He is responsible for blended e-learning seminars (renewable energy and grid integration) and works as a trainer for wind energy (resource assessment, technology, hybrid wind/PV micro grids and wind farm economics) and for grid integration of renewables (balancing power and capacity credit calculation, short term power forecast for wind and solar).

Mr. Tiedemann moderates and chairs panel discussions, workshops, seminars and conferences.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

From 2003 to 2009 Mr. Tiedeman was the Project Director at the German Energy Agency (dena) GmbH. He worked as a consultant for the German Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the European Commission and enterprises in the energy sector. Furthermore, he was the Chairman of Offshore Wind Standing Committee of the Federal government and the coastal Länder as well of the Forum Offshore Wind Energy and Nature Conservation.

Mr. Tiedemann has been executively involved in the integration of renewable energies into the German energy supply system and also involved in conducting strategic analysis for the German energy sector (German grid-study I and II until 2020 and 2030).

From 1989 to 2003 he worked as scientific assistant for the Federal Environmental Agency of Germany where he was responsible for developing environmental friendly technologies.

EDUCATION

Mr. Tiedemann holds a degree as Engineer of Environmental Protection Technology from the Technical University Berlin.

show more show less

Mr. Rafael Juan Marti

Learning unit:
Economics of Grid-tied PV

CURRENT POSITION

Rafael is an expert in large and medium scale solar projects & power electronics and battery storage systems (BESS). Since March 2020 he has been working in the Solar Division of RENAC, with trainings and lecture presentations on photovoltaic technology, batteries solutions and green energy business plans.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mr. Marti has several years of experience as Business Development and Project Development in different links of the renewable industry.

EDUCATION

Rafael has a double degree in Law and Political Science and a Master in International Business Management with specialization in Energy Management.

show more show less

Mr. Martin Schnauss

Learning unit:
Solar thermal

CURRENT POSITION

Martin Schnauss works as a Freelance Engineer, Consultant and Lecturer for solar technologies.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mr. Schnauss has been working in the field of renewable energies for more than two decades. He is a specialist in solar systems, both solar thermal and photovoltaic. He possesses profound experience in planning and construction, technical support, cost estimates, analyses of cost-effectiveness, monitoring and research, system optimising and computer simulation. He frequently publishes articles on technical issues and is co-author of publications such as “Support constructions for solar systems” (Solarpraxis 2001), “Solar heat for domestic use” (Solarpraxis 2000) or “Solar Thermal Systems” (Solarpraxis 2002). In his career he has been working as an engineer for e.g. the Technical University of Berlin, German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) the engineering office Dr. Valentin and Solarpraxis AG.

Mr. Schnauss regularly gives presentations in the context of national and international conferences and gained teaching experienced in many lectures and seminars on renewable energy technologies since the 1980ies.

show more show less

Mr. Alexander Boensch

Learning unit:
Financing Renewable Energy

CURRENT POSITION

Mr. Boensch works as a corporate finance advisor in Neue Energie Gesellschaft Berlin mbH (NEG).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Since June 2008, Alexander Boensch has been consulting ENERTRAG Structured Finance AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ENERTRAG AG at Director’s level being in charge of corporate finance, risk management, procurement of capital, financial modelling, bank marketing and M&A activities.

In 2003, Alexander Boensch started his own advisory business specializing in Project & Structured Finance consulting for renewable energy companies. In addition to his consulting work for wind energy industry clients, Alexander Boensch is member of the investment decision-making board of ENERTRAG EnergieZins GmbH, a well-established issuer of financial products exclusively based on claims on renewable energy assets.

EDUCATION

Mr. Boensch graduated from Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) and has completed a vocational training in the banking industry.

show more show less

Mrs. Marta Stetsiv

Learning unit:
Energy Management and Energy Efficiency

CURRENT POSITION

Marta Stetsiv joined RENAC in 2023 as an expert in international energy efficiency training. As part of the Solar & Energy Efficiency Division, she conceptualises, plans, and manages international and national training programmes, materials, and projects for energy efficiency in buildings.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Before joining RENAC, Marta worked as a technical advisor at GIZ Ukraine for two IKI (Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative) projects focusing on energy efficiency in buildings. There she coordinated the planning and implementation of refurbishing multi-storey residential buildings, including construction. Marta also brings extensive experience as a team lead and engineer in the energy sector. She has an in-depth understanding of electricity supply networks and industries, markets and policies, and technical details of power grids and their components.

EDUCATION

Marta received her master’s degree in Electrical Engineering Systems of Energy Consumption from Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine.

show more show less

IMPRESSIONS

The on-campus time in Berlin, Germany is one of the highlights of the MBA Renewables study programme. Every year, students from all over the world attend one week of practical training in Berlin at the RENAC Training Centre. Students take that opportunity to gain hands-on skills as well as to meet their peers and professors in person. Forming these connections enables them to enhance their professional networks.

2022

Wind lab training session

2023

Photovoltaic rooftop practical session

2024

Solar thermal practical session

Matthieu Jaunatre, France
“The online learning programme has given me the flexibility to follow an MBA programme while being able to continue working. I have been able to use the newly acquired knowledge and competencies in scope with my work, making the learning process even more effective.”

Alejandra Escobar Rubalcava, Mexico
"I have a strong passion for renewable energies and sustainable development in more broad terms. Generally, I enjoy a hands-on mentality and making things happen. Therefore, I wanted to complete a distance learning programme giving me the opportunity to work at the same time.”