The University of Aberdeen has launched the UK’s first postgraduate degree programme in Energy Transition Systems and Technologies.
The new, full-time course, will be available to study on campus from September (COVID-19 permitting), or part-time online, and is said to reinforce and build upon the city’s reputation as a major international energy centre.
A new generation of systems engineers will be educated to MSc level, providing them with industry-relevant skills and training, with the hope of it leading to future career possibilities in all areas of the energy sector.
Based in the School of Engineering, with expert contributions from the Schools of geosciences, business and law, the new Masters programme will draw on much of the ground-breaking research being conducted within the University’s Centre for Energy Transition (CET).
The launch of this programme represents one of several exciting energy developments in the region, including the National Decommissioning Centre (NDC) and the OGTC, both national centres of excellence for the oil and gas sector. The North East already boasts many large scale infrastructure projects such as the Kincardine Floating Offshore Wind Farm, the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage project and the planned renewable energy superhighway linking Scottish offshore sectors and to the English mainland.
Programme director Professor Russell McKenna said the city’s heritage and global reputation as the energy capital of Europe meant that it was perfectly placed to be hosting the UK’s first such degree programme.
He said: “This course was set up to fill a gap and meet a need. In recent years, non-hydrocarbon based energy has grown significantly in Aberdeen due its large talent pool of energy engineers and scientists, and the abundance of wind and ocean energy resources off the Aberdeenshire coast.
“The past 20 years has seen increased interest in more sustainable energy systems. The transition towards these systems has gathered momentum, aided by new technological innovations in areas such as wind and tidal energy, energy storage, carbon capture and storage, biofuels and hydrogen. Energy transition, however, continues to pose significant technological, commercial and political challenges for businesses and governments.
“Energy transition engineers are faced with the challenge of redesigning our entire energy infrastructure while ensuring continued access to reliable and affordable energy. To achieve this, we must understand how to successfully integrate Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs) into our current and future energy systems.”
With an emphasis on the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy types through the integration of LCTs into current and future energy systems, the programme will encourage students to take a ‘systems-thinking’ approach to energy transition.
This course was set up to fill a gap and meet a need. In recent years, non-hydrocarbon based energy has grown significantly in Aberdeen due its large talent pool of energy engineers and scientists, and the abundance of wind and ocean energy resources off the Aberdeenshire coast.”
For more information about the MSc in Energy Transitions Systems and Technologies, go to: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgt/etst/
