Master in Renewable Energies

Program Presentation

Throughout history, social groups have selected their energy systems based on two sets of variables: technical availability and economic viability.

Only recently have we come to see a new variable that may involve the acceptance or rejection of an entire energy system based on the environmental impacts that their use maycause: the environmental factor.

Thus, in the immediate future, this factor should be seen as a crucial element with the ability to influence the setting of potential alternative energy systems for a country. This aspect is particularly important when evaluating and comparing different energy sources and resources for a more sustainable world.

There is no comprehensive solution in the short and medium term to the problem of declining resources and environmental pollution, but rather that the future lies in energy diversification,which is where renewables can complement traditional forms of energy without replacing them.

The Master in Renewable Energies that wepresent here provides a central part, which is the core of the program, where the peculiarities of clean forms of energy are detailed in the context of the current energy framework and potential future scenarios, with an added value compared to other programs of this type: on one hand, it incorporates the parts concerning environmental management tools, as it is important to know how to perform impact studies and incorporate renewable and energy efficiency technologies within the overall management system of the company; and, on the other hand, it includes a part dedicated to the phenomenon of climate change and its relationship to renewable energy, in reference to the portion of vulnerability and mitigation.

Who is the programme for?

The Master's Degree in Renewable Energy is aimed at university graduates from middle grade or higher that, by their personal characteristics or by their experience, may want quality training in the field of renewable energy.

Diploma

Successful completion of the Program will enable you to be awarded the degree in Master in Renewable Energies.

After successfully completing the Program, the student will receive the degree as awarded by the University where they have enrolled.

Program Structure

The credit structure of the Master in Renewable Energies program is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the duration is merely indicative, as the methodology followed integrates the knowledge and skills to be acquired in each part through integrative exercises of knowledge acquisition and internalization of project practices:

	CREDITS^a
1^st Part: Environmental Management Tools	12
2^nd Part: Renewable Energy	33
3^rd Part: Climate Change	25
4^th Part: Final Project	20
TOTAL	90

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university where he/she has enrolled. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 + 15 hours. If the student is enrolled in a university that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relation between credits - hours may vary.

Duration

The Master in Renewable Energies has 90 credits.

The duration of the Master in Renewable Energies varies between 12 and 24 months, depending on the student's commitment. During this period, the student must have successfully passed all the corresponding evaluations as well as the Final Project.

Objectives

General Objective

Contribute to the growth of new business opportunities that represents the field of renewable energies through the performance of a cooperative and collaborative work, to respond in an open, critical and reflective way to the various expressions in which the interaction between society, knowledge and technology manifests.

Specific Objectives

Be aware of the economic, social and environmental implications of sustainable development, realizing the concept’s real importance.
Justify the need to implement an environmental management system in the company.
Set forth the various stages of implementing an EMS.
Implementing ISO 14001:2004 in any type of business.
Examine a case study on the application of ISO 14001.
Learn about the tools and instruments of environmental management employed in decision-making processes.
Study the conceptual framework of the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Analyze the phases and particularities of the Environmental Impact Assessment as a technical instrument of the EIS.
Interpret the legislative framework and the administrative procedure referred to in the EIAs of various countries.
Analyze the framework and the current energy scenarios for the future, at the global level.
Diagnose the environmental and socio-economic implications of the global and local impacts caused by anthropogenic activities.
Design an ACS installation through the F-CHART method.
Design a solar heating system using the F-CHART method.
Design the photovoltaic equipment of a permanent or weekend solar housing.
Design the impeller of a Francis turbine and a Pelton wheel.
Develop the environmental impact study of a hydraulic plant or a wind farm.
Design a wind turbine farm in function of several variables.
Relate the technologies that utilize the vapor of a geopressured deposit with the production of heat and/or electricity.
Differentiate between the uses for biomass, either for a material end or energy usage.
Define the different utilizations of the sea as an energy source, in terms of potential and economic viability.
Know the global agreements, negotiations and existing policies on climate change.
Interpret the concepts of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Career Opportunities

Some of the professional opportunities for the Master in Renewable Energies are the following:

Research of energy-efficient technologies from the point of view of energy.
Technical adviser in renewable energies.
Maintenance technician of wind farms, solar collection systems, etc.
Installer of solar thermal and photovoltaic harnessing infrastructure.
Teaching.

Study Plan

The Master in Renewable Energies has a curricular structure based on four sequential training parts.

1^st PART: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS

From a management point of view, this first part provides, on the one hand, the essential tools to manage renewable and clean energy technology developments within a company's global system; and, on the other hand, the forecasting tools for environmental impact assessment for impact studies of this type of energy.

The subjects and the corresponding credits that make up the first part are shown in the following table:

1^st PART: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS
#	SUBJECTS	CREDITS
1	Introduction to Sustainable Development	1
2	Environmental Impact Assessment	7
3	Business Environmental Management	4
TOTAL		12

These subjects, in spite of being independent of each other, are structured according to a coherent teaching order that facilitates their understanding. Each subject is divided into chapters, whose content includes printed material that should be studied to satisfactorily answer the evaluated activities.

2^nd PART: RENEWABLE ENERGIES

This part focuses on the current context of renewable solar energy (thermal and photovoltaic), wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, and marine energy, in the current framework of energy policies, regulations, technical aspects, impacts, among others.

The subjects and corresponding credits that make up the second part are shown in the following table:

2^nd PART: RENEWABLE ENERGIES
#	SUBJECTS	CREDITS
1	Introduction to the Renewable Energy	5
2	Solar Thermal Energy	4
3	Photovoltaic Solar Energy	4
4	Hydraulic Energy	5
5	Wind Energy	5
6	Geothermal Energy	3
7	Biomass Energy	4
8	Sea Energy	3
TOTAL		33

3^rd PART: CLIMATE CHANGE

Because of its importance and current and future relevance in government agendas, a third part relating to climate change has been considered necessary to be introduced. In this context, it describes the main commitments and agreements of this area, the socio-economic and climatic factors that influence the vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and, finally, the nature of technological measures taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) in some sectors.

The chapters and corresponding credits that make up the third part are shown in the following table:

3^rd PART: CLIMATE CHANGE
#	SUBJECTS	CREDITS
1	Agreements, Negotiations and Instruments on Climate Change	8
2	Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change	9
3	Mitigation of Climate Change	8
TOTAL		25

4^th PART: SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE MASTER’S FINAL PROJECT OR DEGREE THESIS

Finally, the fourth part is devoted to the study of the Scientific Research Methodology subject as a step prior to the development of the Master's Final Work.

The Scientific Research Methodology subject presents the stages of the research process and its techniques, so that the student becomes familiar with the scientific method, allowing them to generate contributions within their field of work. We also review some of the main statistical tools that further help substantiate hypotheses, by providing a mathematical support to the observations made.

On the other hand, to be awarded the master’s degree in Climate Change, the presentation and completion of the Master's Final Project or Degree Thesis is necessary. The aim is to produce a complete document that shows the total development of the proposed project, contemplating the possibility of its actual implementation. It must be a contribution to some of the fields studied or to their relationship, both theoretical and applied, and respecting the doctrines, theories, and related disciplines.

4^th PART: FINAL PROJECT
#	SUBJECTS	CREDITS
1	Scientific Research Methodology	5
2	Final Project	15
TOTAL		20

Note: The contents of the academic program may be subject to slight modifications, depending on the updates or the improvements made.

Management

Academic Administration

Dr. Eduardo García Villena. Director of the Environment Area in the International Ibero-american University (UNINI)

Teaching staff and Authors

Dr. Ángel M. Álvarez Larena. Dr. in Geology. Prof. at the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Dr. Roberto M. Álvarez. Prof. of the University of Buenos Aires.
Dr. Óscar Arizpe Covarrubias. Prof. at the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, Mexico
Dr. Isaac Azuz Adeath. Prof. at the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, Mexico
Dr. David Barrera Gómez. Doctor from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia
Dr. Brenda Bravo Díaz. Prof. of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico
Dr. Rubén Calderón Iglesias. Prof. of the European University Miguel de Cervantes
Dr. Leonor Calvo Galván. Prof. of the University of León. Spain
Dr. Olga Capó Iturrieta. Dr. Industrial Engineering. Prof. of the Research Institute in Agropecuarias, Chile
Dr. Alina Celi Frugoni. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. José Cortizo Álvarez. Prof. of the University of León. Spain
Dr. Antoni Creus Solé. Dr. in Industrial Engineering
Dr. Juan Carlos Cubría García. Prof. of the University of León. Spain
Dr. Raquel Domínguez Fernández. Prof. of the University of León
Dr. Luís A. Dzul López. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Xavier Elías Castells. Director of the By-product Exchange of Catalonia
Dr. Milena E. Gómez Yepes. Dr. in Project Engineering. Prof. of the University of the Quindio, Colombia
Dr. Ramón Guardino Ferré. Dr. in Project Engineering. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Emilio Hernández Chiva. Dr. in Industrial Engineering. Spanish National Research Council, CSIC
Dr. Cristina Hidalgo González. Prof. of the University of León
Dr. Francisco Hidalgo Trujillo. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Víctor Jiménez Arguelles. Prof. of the Autonomous Metropolitan University. Mexico
Dr. Miguel Ángel López Flores. Prof. of the National Polytechnic Institute (CIIEMAD-IPN)
Dr. Izel Márez López. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Carlos A. Martín. Prof. of the National University of the Littoral, Argentina
Dr. Isabel Joaquina Niembro García. Dr. in Project Engineering. Prof. of the Monterrey Institute of Technology
Dr. César Ordóñez Pascua. Prof. of the University of León
Dr. José María Redondo Vega. Prof. of the University of León. Spain
Dr. Gladys Rincón Polo. Prof. of the Simón Bolívar University, Venezuela
Dr. José U. Rodríguez Barboza. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Ramón San Martín Páramo. Dr. in Industrial Engineering. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Raúl Sardinha. Prof. of the Piaget Institute, Portugal
Dr. Héctor Solano Lamphar. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Martha Velasco Becerra. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Dr. Alberto Vera. Prof. of the National University of Lanús, Argentina
Dr. Margarita González Benítez. Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain.
Dr. Lázaro Cremades Oliver. Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain
Dr. (c) Pablo Eisendecher Bertín. Professor of the Environment Department in FUNIBER
Dr. Kilian Tutusaus Pifarré. Professor of the Environment Department in FUNIBER
Dr. (c) Karina Vilela. Professor of the Environment Department in FUNIBER
Dr. (c) Erik Simoes. Prof. of the International Ibero-american University
Ms. Omar Gallardo Gallardo. Prof. of the University of Santiago in Chile
Ms. Susana Guzmán Rodríguez. Prof. of the Central University of Ecuador
Ms. Icela Márquez Rojas. Prof. of the Technological University of Panama

FUNIBER Training Scholarships

The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.

To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.

Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.