Global Production Engineering for New Energy Technologies

GPE NET is a two-year Master program in English, offered by the TU Berlin. The degree program offers comprehensive qualification in renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics, solar thermal systems, wind energy, hydro power, bio energy and geo thermal systems. The major aims to prepare its students for the challenges of the booming renewable energies markets. The course of studies is oriented around the requirements in commercial practice and takes all steps of the value-creating process into account; from production of renewable energies components, planning /installation and operation of renewable power generation facilities, up to management, financing, law and marketing aspects of the renewables industry.

The degree program GPE NET, is directed at engineers with a B.Sc., who are to occupy leadership positions in global renewable energy enterprises, specifically in the areas of production, management or engineering.

This Master program is evolving as dynamically as the solar and renewable energy sector. Students from the intake 2013 will already benefit from three new modules which enable them to develop their competences in the fields of hydro power and geo thermal systems.

The market for renewable energies has been developing at a staggering pace, regarding both the amount of the globally installed capacity and technological innovation. The capacity for photovoltaic for example, is expected to triple over 2011 – 2017 up to 230 GW, and also the market for solar thermal heating should see an almost three-rate growth in the same period up to 500 GWth. This development goes along with increased economic attractiveness and improved framework conditions in many parts of the world. As a result, for engineers with corresponding solar know-how many new and interesting jobs have been arising.

As we are continuously monitoring recent developments in the global renewable energy market, we have decided to extend our course offer and to include some late-breaking topics about other renewable energy technologies in the GPE Solar curriculum. These modules are opening up vast fields of possible professional activities for our engineers-to-be.

• Renewable Power Technologies
  Students get a comprehensive overview of the main, commercially-viable and upcoming renewable power technologies and come to understand one of the most urgent challenges of today’s electricity markets: how to incorporate renewable power capacity into electricity grids.
• Grid Independent Hybrid Systems
  With the maturation of Renewable Energy technologies in recent years, the combination of different power generating technologies and additional storage solutions in Hybrid Systems are becoming more and more relevant. They offer a convenient and competitive solution for the electrification of areas without cost-intensive grid extension. In our new Grid Independent Hybrid Systems course you will learn how to optimally plan and design systems including power generation solutions such as photovoltaic, wind energy and conventional power sources. Storage and electronic power control technologies are examined in detail.
• Utilization of Wind Energy
  Wind power plants are in many areas the most competitive renewable energy option up to now. Since wind and solar power are the most relevant renewable technologies now and in the medium-term, knowing the working principles of both is a clear advantage for future engineers. In this extensive course you will get to know in detail all components of wind turbines. You will obtain physic and aerodynamic foundations to understand how wind power is produced and converted into electrical energy. 
• Hydro Power Technologies
  Among the emerging renewable energy sources, hydropower is the oldest way to provide energy. Electricity is produced from hydropower turbines over 130 year. Power water on a slope or from flows such as rivers and waves supply energy in a much more constant fashion, than photovoltaic's and wind power. This is particularly important in nets that depend increasingly on renewable energy. While in the past years, the abuse of river habitats has increasingly limited the thoughtless exploitation of water habitats, still it is a reliable source for power generation. Innovative solutions such as hydrodynamic generators will allow more sustainable solutions, where the creativity of engineers of tomorrow will be required.
• Geothermal Energy Systems
  The module helps to understand the basic geology knowledge needed to comprehend the basics of exploration of geothermal energy reservoirs and shows up the methods to access these reservoirs by drilling, it teaches additionally the engineering behind the reservoir by enhancing methods. The lecture describes geothermal systems as a mean to make use of the Earth’s heat. Power generation, as well as heating and cooling possibilities is analyzed and boundary conditions are shown to determine its economic and environmental potentials.
• Bio Energy Technologies 
  The structure of the module will address both, the traditional technical, engineering and production related aspects of today’s bio energy technology as well as major areas of innovation in the respective areas. Also, economic aspects of the usage of renewable energy will be discussed. Furthermore students will be given the opportunity to visit generation plants in operation in order to gain insight into operational problems and challenges as well as into economic issues.

Download the GPE New Energy Technologies flyer!