Master Programme in Solar Energy Engineering60 Credits

1.1 Objectives, as specified in the Higher Education Act (1992:1434), Chapter 1, Section 9:

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent.
Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
• develop the students’ ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations and
• develop the students’ potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

Knowledge and Understanding

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both an overview of the field and specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and Skills

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues autonomously as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing to report clearly and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and Approach

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for their ongoing learning.
  

After completing the programme, the student will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

• demonstrate in-depth understanding of various solar energy technologies in terms of physical processes and mathematical models for energy output in the conversion of solar radiation into electrical or thermal energy,
• demonstrate in-depth understanding of how solar technologies can be integrated into a range of system types that meet the different supply needs in society at different scales, and
• demonstrate in-depth understanding of how storage can be used to enhance the integration of solar energy into energy systems.

Competence and Skills

• demonstrate the ability, using a scientific approach, to theoretically, experimentally and independently understand and analyse both solar energy systems as well as the function of individual components and their interrelations,
• demonstrate the ability to independently design and size solar electricity  systems in terms of components, climate, energy demands, and other relevant conditions using relevant software, and
• demonstrate the ability to process and both critically and systematically analyse relevant data for solar energy applications, and evaluate the reliability of the results.
  
  Judgement and Approach
• evaluate how solar energy solutions can contribute towards a transition to a sustainable society from social, economic and environmental perspectives.

This programme aims to prepare students to work in the solar energy industry and/or conduct research in the fields of solar electricity technologies and systems.

The courses in the first semester impart theoretical knowledge of solar energy technology, such as the technical basics of components and subsystems for the use of solar energy in the production of electricity, sustainable heating and energy storage and how solar energy can be used directly in buildings or on large scales. In the  first project course, this theoretical knowledge will be applied to the processing and visualisation of data from solar energy components and/or systems.

In the project course, this theoretical knowledge will be applied to the processing and visualisation of data from solar energy components and/or systems.

The second semester starts with two courses: Solar Economics and PV Asset Management  and PV On-grid System Design. These cover the functional design and economics of photovoltaic systems for different application areas and for a range of geographical and techno-economical boundary conditions. These courses build on and progress from the courses in the first semester.

The thesis work can be carried out at a university / college, or at a business or other organisation in Sweden or abroad.

Year 1:

Degree Thesis in Solar Energy Engineering*, 15 credits
Electrical Storage Technology and Conversion Technology*, 5 credits
Energy Transition in Society*, 5 credits
Project Course 1 – Data Analysis for Solar Energy Systems*, 5 credits
PV On-grid System Design*, 7.5 credits
PV Technology*, 5 credits
Solar Economics and PV Asset Management*, 7.5 credits
Sustainable Heating Technology*, 5 credits
Solar Radiation and Solar Geometry*, 5 credits

*Courses required to meet the learning outcomes of the programme.

 Degree of Master of Science (60 credits), Main Field of Study: Solar Energy Engineering (Teknologie magister examen, huvudområde: Solenergiteknik).