Student Guide
Master's Programme in Advanced Energy Solutions
Programme main page
Curriculum 2017–2018
The Master's Programme in Advanced Energy Solutions has four majors. In each of them, you will be provided a solid theoretical background, complimented with interdisciplinary studies to broaden and deepen the understanding of energy challenges in our society. Two of the majors are organized by the School of Engineering (ENG,) one by the School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM) and one by the School of Electrical Engineering (ELEC).
Programme common courses 16 cr
Credits: 15 ECTS cr
Responsible Professors: Martti Larmi, Risto Kosonen, Matti Lehtonen, Pekka Oinas
There are three common courses compulsory for all students regardless of their major. The main purpose of the common courses is to give the student the basic understanding of energy systems and energy markets and, on the other hand, to provide the same starting point for all students irrespective of their previous background. The programme common courses are completed during the first year of Master's studies.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E1000 | Introduction to Advanced Energy Solutions | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8422 | An Introduction to Electric Energy | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| 31E01310 | Energy and Environmental Economics | 5 | V | 1. year |
Major studies 50 cr
The major-specific studies comprise 50 credits and are divided into common courses (15–25 cr) and advanced studies (25–35 cr). The exact amount of required common courses and advanced studies is defined separately for each major in the sections below.
Industrial Energy Processes and Sustainability
Code: CHEM3044
Credits: 50 ECTS cr
Responsible Professor: Pekka Oinas
Energy consumption in industry has a great impact on the sustainability of the energy system and the society as a whole. Understanding, managing and designing energy intensive industrial processes resource efficiently is a key issue in the field of energy. This major provides understanding of energy and process industry, their main challenges and the possibilities for development. The major addresses engineering knowledge involved in energy intensive industrial processes, heat and power processes, biomass conversion and energy efficiency in the industry. Students in the major gain a strong education of energy technology as well as a deep knowledge of the advanced areas.
The major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical tools and skills needed by engineers working on the field of industry. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems of the field, the major is designed to be flexible. Courses include theoretical considerations, experimental work, industrial applications, and first-hand experience. The major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by energy companies, manufacturing industry, consulting companies and society. Students are well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.
Upon completion of the major, the student will be able to:
- Understand the existing and emerging biomass sources for sustainable industrial use
- Understand the theory, design and operation of energy related industrial systems
- Understand fundamentals of bio-based thermochemical processes
- Apply proper tools and software to simulate and design energy-related processes
- Analyze systems with the principles of thermodynamics, energy balances, and heat and mass transfer
- Analyze energy efficiency of industrial processes and systems
- Create solutions for energy intensive industry
Common studies (select 20 cr)
Please note: if you have not previously studied thermodynamics to the extent as presented in CHEM-E7100 or EEN-E1030, one of these courses shall be selected. If you have not previously studied heat transfer to the extent as presented in EEN-E1020, this course shall be selected.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM-E6125 | Environmental Management in Industry | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7100 | Engineering Thermodynamics, Separation Processes, part I | 5 | I | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7140 | Process Automation | 5 | I | 2. year |
| CHEM-E7160 | Fluid Flow in Process Units | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E1020 | Heat Transfer | 5 | II | 1. year |
| EEN-E1030 | Thermodynamics in Energy Technology | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
Advanced studies (select 30 cr)
The student is free to select courses from the topic groups in any combination as long as the degree requirements are met. Recommended study paths can be found here. Also additional courses from the common studies can be placed under the advanced studies.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Group: Chemical Processes and Energy | ||||
| CHEM-E1120 | Thermochemical Processes | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1140 | Catalysis for Biomass Refining | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1150 | Biomass Pretreatment and Fractionation – in Class | 5 | III-IV | |
| CHEM-E5145 | Materials for Renewable Energy | 5 | III-IV | |
| CHEM-E7110 | Engineering Thermodynamics, Separation Processes, part II | 5 | III-IV | |
| CHEM-E7205 | Process Automation and Information Systems: Applications | 5 | III-IV | |
| EEN-E2002 | Combustion Technology | 5 | III | |
| EEN-E2006 | Bioenergy II | 5 | II | 2. year |
| EEN-E9010 | Energy Project | 5 | II | 2. year (lectured first time in the autumn 2018) |
| Topic Group: Industrial Heat and Power Processes | ||||
| EEN-E1010 | Power Plants and Processes | 5 | I-II | |
| EEN-E1040 | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems | 5 | I | |
| EEN-E2002 | Combustion Technology | 5 | III | |
| EEN-E3001 | Fundamentals of Industrial Energy Engineering | 5 | III-IV | |
| EEN-E3002 | Power Process Simulation | 5 | ||
| EEN-E3003 | Industrial Drying and Evaporation Processes | 5 | ||
| EEN-E3004 | District Heating and Cooling | 5 | ||
| EEN-E9010 | Energy Project | 5 | II | 2. year (lectured first time in the autumn 2018) |
| CHEM-E7205 | Process Automation and Information Systems: Applications | 5 | ||
| EEN-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology | 5 | I,II,III,IV,V |
Sustainable Energy in Buildings and Built Environment
Code: ENG3068
Credits: 50 ECTS cr
Responsible Professor: Risto Kosonen
Already today, a great majority of the people are living in cities and urbanization is a continuing trend. Developing energy efficient buildings and cities is a huge challenge of today when at the same time all solutions should enhance to achieve healthy, comfortable and productive indoor environments. At the moment, buildings are responsible for 40% of the final energy consumption and about 50 % of the electricity consumption. For this reason, nations in Europe and beyond have awaken to the need to reduce the use of energy in buildings. In the short term target, all new buildings should be nearly zero energy buildings by the year 2020. In the next phase, the EU 2050 roadmap defines that by 2050, the equivalent CO2 emission from the building sector should be reduced by around 90% compared to the 1990 level.
The candidates with the study line will have specific knowledge on the sustainable energy technologies. The major offers theoretical basis and practical skills that are required in design projects and developing of novel technologies and services for energy efficient buildings and nearby. The major will offer advanced courses on an efficient use of energy in the fields of building technology and services, design of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The specialization of the major includes specification of performance of the building HVAC systems and indoor environment quality. The major prepares students for current and future challenges in construction and building service industries. Upon completion of the Major, the student:
- Has a understanding of interdisciplinary aspects of energy efficiency
- Has a understanding of the methods to improve energy efficiency
- Is aware how to utilize renewable energy sources in buildings
- Is able to optimize building systems and develop services to improve energy efficiency
- Has a understanding of how the entity of building design, building physics and HVAC system influence on indoor environment
- Has a understanding of design methods and appropriate simulation and optimization tools
Advance HVAC course package (40 cr.) provides the qualification to be a responsible designer of exceptional demanding HVAC-projects in Finland.
Common studies (15 cr, compulsory)
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEN-E1020 | Heat Transfer | 5 | II | 1. year |
| EEN-E1030 | Thermodynamics in Energy Technology | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| MEC-E1020 | Fluid Dynamics | 5 | I | 1. year |
Advanced studies (select 35 cr)
The student is free to select courses from the topic groups in any combination as long as the degree requirements are met. Recommended study paths can be found here.
| Code | Name of the course | Credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Group: HVAC Technology For the qualification to be a “responsible designer of exceptional demanding HVAC- projects” in Finland, Core Major courses 35 cr and also additional 10 cr of the *marked courses should be completed (altogether 45 cr). |
||||
| EEN-E4001* | Comfortable and Healthy Indoor Environments | 5 | III | 1. year |
| EEN-E4002* | Heating and Cooling Systems | 5 | III | 1. year |
| EEN-E4003* | Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E4004* | Fundamentals of HVAC Design | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| EEN-E4005* | Sustainable Building Energy Systems | 5 | V | 1. year |
| EEN-E4006* | Advanced HVAC Design | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| EEN-E4007* | Building Energy Optimisation | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| ELEC-E8124* | Intelligent buildings | 5 | II, New course | 1. or 2. year |
| CIV-E3030 | Indoor Air Quality | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CIV-E3040* | Indoor Environment Technology | 5 | I | 2. year |
| EEN-E1040* | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| Topic Group: Building Engineering Services For the qualification to be a “responsible designer of ordinary HVAC- projects” in Finland, the *marked courses should be completed (altogether 30 cr). |
||||
| ELEC-E8124 | Intelligent buildings | 5 | II, New course | 1. or 2. year |
| EEN-E4001* | Comfortable and Healthy Indoor Environments | 5 | III | 1. year |
| EEN-E4002* | Heating and Cooling Systems | 5 | III | 1. year |
| EEN-E4003* | Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E4004* | Fundamentals of HVAC design | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| EEN-E1040* | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
| CIV-E3030 | Indoor Air Quality | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CIV-E3040* | Indoor environment technology | 5 | I | 2. year |
| ELEC-E8700 | Principles and fundamentals of lighting | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| ELEC-E8701 | Lighting technology and applications | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| Topic Group: Building technology | ||||
| EEN-E4002 | Heating and Cooling Systems | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CIV-E1010 | Building materials technology | 5 | I | 2. year |
| CIV-E2010 | Building information modelling in construction | 5 | II | 2. year |
| CIV-E3010 | Applied building physics and design | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| CIV-E3020 | Design of energy efficient buildings | 5 | II | 2. year |
| CIV-E3030 | Indoor Air Quality | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CIV-E3040 | Indoor environment technology | 5 | I | 2. year |
| EEN-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology | 5 | I,II,III,IV,V |
Sustainable Energy Conversion Processes
Code: ENG3069
Credits: 50 ECTS cr
Responsible Professor: Martti Larmi
Provision of energy has a major impact on the environmental performance of the society. Understanding principles and the effects of different enegy conversion pathways and their interaction is of uttermost importance to operating the energy system effectively, while keeping the environmental impact low. This major provides understanding of different aspects of energy conversion and storage. Major covers the fields of heat and power processes, energy conversion technologies and utilization of natural resources as energy carriers. In this major the student can also focus on computational methods. Renewable energy generation technologies as well as conventional thermal power processes are covered. Students in the major gain a strong education of energy technology as well as a deep knowledge of the advanced areas.
The major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical tools and skills needed by engineers working on the field of energy. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems of the field, the major is designed to be flexible. Courses include theoretical considerations, experimental work, industrial applications, and first-hand experience. The major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by energy companies, manufacturing industry, consulting companies and society. Students are well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.
Upon completion of the major, the student will be able to:
- Understand the theory and operation of modern energy systems
- Understand the existing and emerging biomass sources for sustainable energy use
- Apply proper tools and software to simulate and design energy conversion processes
- Analyze systems with the principles of thermodynamics, energy balances, and heat and mass transfer
- Evaluate different energy conversion methods, their restrictions and applicability to various situations
- Evaluate feasibility of different renewable energy sources globally and regionally
- Create solutions for energy industry
Common Courses (select 20 cr)
Please note: if you have not previously studied thermodynamics to the extent as presented in CHEM-E7100 or EEN-E1030, one of these courses shall be selected.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EEN-E1010 | Power plants and processes | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| EEN-E1020 | Heat Transfer | 5 | II | 1. year |
| EEN-E1030 | Thermodynamics in Energy Technology | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| EEN-E1040 | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
| EEN-E2002 | Combustion technology | 5 | III-IV | 1.year |
| EEN-E9010 | Energy Project | 5 | I-II | 2.year |
| CHEM-E5145 | Materials for Renewable Energy | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7100 | Engineering Thermodynamics, Separation Processes, part I | 5 | I | 1. year |
| MEC-E1020 | Fluid Dynamics | 5 | I | 1. year |
Advanced studies (select 30 cr)
The student is free to select courses from the topic groups in any combination as long as the degree requirements are met. Recommended study paths can be found here. Also additional courses from the common studies can be placed under the advanced studies.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Group: Bioenergy conversion | ||||
| EEN-E2003 | Combustion | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| EEN-E2004 | Mass Transfer | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E2005 | Bioenergy I | 5 | I | 2. year |
| EEN-E2006 | Bioenergy II | 5 | II | 2. year |
| EEN-E2007 | Energy, Environment and Emission Control | 5 | II | 2. year |
| EEN-E3002 | Power Process Simulation | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1100 | Plant Biomass | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| CHEM-E1120 | Thermochemical Processes | 5 | III-V | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1140 | Catalysis for Biomass Refining | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1150 | Biomass Pretreatment and Fractionation – in Class | 5 | III-V | 1. or 2. year |
| CHEM-E6100 | Fundamentals of Chemical Thermodynamics | 5 | I | 2. year |
| CHEM-E7140 | Process Automation | 5 | I | 2. year |
| Topic Group: Renewable energy | ||||
| EEN-E2005 | Bioenergy I | 5 | I | 2. year |
| EEN-E2006 | Bioenergy II | 5 | II | 2. year |
| EEN-E2007 | Energy, Environment and Emission Control | 5 | II | 2. year |
| CHEM-E4255 | Electrochemical energy conversion | 5 | II | 2. year |
| PHYS-E0483 | Advances in New Energy Technologies | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| PHYS-E6570 | Solar Energy Engineering | 5 | III-IV* | 1. year |
| PHYS-E6571 | Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technology | 5 | III-IV* | 1. year |
| PHYS-E6572 | Advanced Wind Power Technology | 5 | I-II* | 2. year |
| * lectured every other year: PHYS-E6570 lectured in the spring term 2018, PHYS-E6571 Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technology lectured in the spring term 2019 | ||||
| Topic Group: Computational energy technology | ||||
| EEN-E2001 | Computational Fluid Dynamics | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E2003 | Combustion | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| EEN-E2004 | Mass Transfer | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E3002 | Power Process Simulation | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1120 | Thermochemical Processes | 5 | III-V | 1. year |
| CHEM-E4255 | Electrochemical energy conversion | 5 | II | 2. year |
| CHEM-E6115 | Thermodynamics of Modeling and Simulation | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology | 5 | I,II,III,IV,V |
Sustainable Energy Systems and Markets
Code: ELEC3048
Credits: 50 ECTS cr
Responsible Professor: Matti Lehtonen
Reliable and affordable energy system is the basic requirement of a modern society. Today, the energy systems face challenges with the flexible integration of different energy forms (power, heat, fuels) and with the increasing complexity of the systems due to distributed power generation and emergence of active produces-customers, i.e. prosumers. Integrating intermittent renewable sources, like solar, wind and wave energy, into the energy system is one of the main challenges of our sustainable future. This major offers the basic understanding of the energy systems, the main challenges faced by our energy solutions today and possible ways towards the sustainable future.
The major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical tools and skills needed by engineers working on the field of energy systems. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems of the field, the major is designed to be flexible. Courses include theoretical considerations, experimental work, industrial applications, and first-hand experience. The major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by energy companies, manufacturing industry, consulting companies and society. Students are well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies. Upon completion of the Major, the student will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of energy systems
- Have holistic view which enables analyzing complex dependencies in vast energy systems
- Optimize and develop the energy systems, taking into account different energy forms
- Understand the role of various parties in energy markets
- Develop applications for energy efficiency and sustainability
- Analyze and evaluate existing and future challenges in the field of energy systems
Common studies
Select one of the topic groups, total 20 cr.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topic Group: Energy Systems | ||||
| ELEC-E8413 | Power Systems | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8406 | Electricity Distribution and Markets | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| EEN-E3006 | Energy Markets | 5 | I | 1. year |
| EEN-E3004 | District Heating and Cooling | 5 | III | 1. year |
| Topic Group: ICT in Energy | ||||
| ELEC-E8102 | Distributed and Intelligent Automation Systems | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8113 | Information Systems in Industry | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| CS-E5340 | Introduction to Industrial Internet | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8423 | Smart Grid | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
Advanced studies (select 30 cr)
The student is free to select courses from the topic groups in any combination as long as the degree requirements are met. Recommended study paths can be found here. Also additional courses from the other topic group of common studies can be placed under the advanced studies.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21E16100 | Energy Business and Innovation | 6 | V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8701 | Lighting technologies and applications | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8410 | Materials in Energy Applications | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8700 | Principles and fundamentals of lighting | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| EEN-E1010 | Power Plants and Processes | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| EEN-E2007 | Energy, Environment and Emission Control | 5 | II | 2. year |
| EEN-E3007 | Process Integration and Energy Optimization | 5 | II | 2. year |
| PHYS-E0483 | Advances in New Energy Technologies | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| PHYS-E6572 | Advanced Wind Power Technology | 5 | I-II | 2. year (organized every other year, not in the autumn 2017) |
| PHYS-E6570 | Solar Energy Engineering | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7205 | Process Automation and Information Systems: Applications | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| MS-E2117 | Risk Analysis | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| MS-E2134 | Decision Making and Problem Solving | 5 | III | 1. year |
| MS-E2140 | Linear Programming | 5 | I | 2. year |
| MS-E2177 | Seminar on Case Studies in Operation Research | 5 | III | 1. year |
| EEN-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology | 5 | I,II,III,IV,V |
Elective studies 24 cr
For elective studies (25 cr) students can choose courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites. Students may also take other Advanced Energy Solutions courses for elective studies. Please see the possible major specific example study paths for suggestions.
Students may also complete a certain master level minor in addition to the major studies. Please find minors Aalto University offers from Aalto University minor's guide.
Foreign language studies (minimum 3 cr in the same language) are required for the completion of the MSc (Tech) degree in some cases (degree has been completed abroad).More information about language requirements for the master's degree students can be found from the Language Centre's Into pages. Finnish or Swedish language courses are strongly recommended for elective studies for international students.
You can also include max. 5 cr of practical training in your elective studies (Major's of School of Engineering and School of Electrical Engineering). Please find more information about the partical training:
- School of Engineering
- School of Electrical Engineering
Master’s thesis 30 cr
Students are required to complete a master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic usually related to the student's major and agreed between the student and a professor. The supervisor of the thesis must be a professor in university and have a relevant expertise in the topic, whereas the thesis advisor(s) can be from the university, company or another university. Thesis advisor(s) must have at least a master’s degree. Master’s thesis work includes a seminar or equivalent presentation. The student is also required to write a maturity essay related to the master’s thesis. The master’s thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed in any part.
Please follow Master's Thesis intructions of the School of your major:
School of Chemical Engineering
School of Electrical Engineering
School of Engineering
Please note! The Master's Programme in Advanced Energy Solutions has it's own Degree Programme Commitee in which master's thesis topics and master's theses are approved. The Degree Programme Committee has meetings approximately once a month/ once in two months between August - June. Please find the meeting schedule in key dates.
Application deadline is about two weeks before the meeting. It should be noted that the topic for the master’s thesis and the completed master’s thesis cannot be approved at the same meeting of the Degree Programme Committee.
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