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
Ms. Katie De Albuquerque
Learning unit:
Solar thermal
CURRENT POSITION
Katie De Albuquerque has been working as a trainer at RENAC since 2008. Her specialisations are solar thermal systems and small hydropower. She is responsible for developing training materials and delivering training courses to installers and engineers through to decision makers. Recently she has co-authored a study on quality standards and quality assurance mechanisms for RE/EE training programmes in the MENA region.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ms. De Albuquerque worked at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales designing, installing and operating solar thermal systems and micro hydro systems as well as providing consultancy services and teaching on various Masters degree courses. Before this she worked for the building consultancy, Arup, as a building services engineer doing heating and ventilation system design. In between she has been involved in a development charity, working with street children in Kenya and has also been involved in a micro hydro project in Nepal.
EDUCATION
Ms. De Albuquerque studied Mechanical Engineering to Masters level at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
