The ESES Master program is now running its tenth year. After the first few years with less then 10 students, we are now between 25 and 35 students study the program every year. More than 180 students have studied at ESES - a large community!
The programme is a 1-year continuation course within Solar Energy Engineering. All courses are taught in English. After passing all courses, including passing the thesis work, the student will be awarded the Degree of Master of Science (one year) with a Major in Mechanical Engineering (in Swedish Teknologie magisterexamen med huvudområdet maskinteknik). The programme comprises in total 60 ECTS credits. The intake for the programme is only once a year. The programme starts at the end of August with the start of the Autumn semester.
Prerequisites
BSc from a recognized university, the equivalent of a Swedish "kandidatexamen", with a major in mechanical or energy engineering, physics, chemistry or similar. Documented good command of both oral and written English is required: English level B from a Swedish senior secondary school or equivalent, e.g. TOEFL (not required for applicants from the Nordic and most European countries or universities with English as the main language). Details about the required score you find here. For some countries specific rules are applied which you can find here.
The application period for the intake in August 2010 is finished. Applications for the next intake in Autumn 2011 can presumably be submitted from December 2010 via www.studera.nu.
Courses
Renewable Energy Technology, 5 ECTS
This course includes: energy technology, renewable energy in a sustainable future, the physics and science behind climate change, and why renewable energy is necessary for the future. Students will understand different types of renewable energy technology, how they work, their advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. The types of renewable energy and technology studied include: wind energy, solar (thermal and photovoltaic), hydro-electric, bio-energy, tidal power, wave energy, geothermal energy, ocean thermal, fuel cells, heat pump systems, and high voltage DC energy transport. The availability and integration of these energy types and technologies are also studied to understand how renewables can work as a compliment to and replacement for conventional technologies.
Solar Electricity, 7 ECTS
In this course the basics of solar engineering are studied: the basic properties of solar radiation and its measurements, and the effect of orientation and slope of receiving surfaces, optical properties of materials are reviewed and discussed, the physics of photovoltaic devices and how they can be modeled mathematically, how these devices are manufactured, how the devices are tested, and how they need to be connected and packaged to provide practical power producing modules. Electrical energy storage and controlling.
Solar Thermal, 5 ECTS
The physics of solar thermal systems, especially collectors, develop models that describe the radiation-heat conversion mathematically.Properties of suitable materials for the collector. The different types of collectors are compared. Heat storage.
Solar Thermal for Hot Climates, 6 ECTS
Concentrating collectors and tracking for collectors. Solar thermal power generation. The most important technologies in hot climates such as solar cooking, desalination, water purification, solar thermosiphon heating systems, and crop drying. Solar air conditioning is given a special place.
Solar Energy Management, 3 ECTS
This course includes: different measures of financial and economic performance and their relative merits and limitations specifically for solar energy projects, the time value of money and derivation of relevant formulas including but not limited to, B/C ratios, discount rate, IRR, standard and discount payback period, depreciation, and net present benefit. Also studied are approaches for considering uncertainty, financial incentives, and various financing methods of solar systems. Lastly, regulations, legislation, cultural aspects, maintenance, insurance issues, and subsidy programs are also studied.
Solar Thermal Design, 4 ECTS
The function and characteristics of different types of solar thermal systems are studied including: large and small scale, hot water systems, combi-systems, pool systems, collector fields, short term storage, and seasonal storage. Control and operational strategies are studied as well as calculation of heat loads. Simulation programs are used to evaluate a real case study. The case studies come from local housing agencies or other local groups that are interested in installing solar thermal systems. The situation is evaluated, then simulations are run to find the most economic system design and size for the given case study. Lastly a detailed design is created and presented to the housing agency or the local group.
Thesis
During the spring semester a 18 ECTS thesis project is carried out, working with one of the research groups at the Solar Energy Research Centre SERC or with other researchers or professionals. The student participates actively and under supervision in the research group. Halfway through the work, achieved results and plans for the continued work are presented in written form as well as orally at a seminar. The completed work is presented as a thesis and defended at a seminar. Read more
The physics of solar thermal systems, especially collectors, develop models that describe the radiation-heat conversion mathematically.Properties of suitable materials for the collector. The different types of collectors are compared. Heat storage. The most important technologies in hot climates such as solar cooking, desalination, water purification, solar thermosiphon heating systems, and crop drying.
