Energy & Sustainability Management

• Tasks, tools and methods of project management
• Organization: Structural, process and project organization
• Schedule, cost and quality management
• Resource management
• Communication and integration
• Risk management

Empirical methods and academic methods
• research practice and fact-based decisions
• qualitative and quantitative methods, research design and forms of data collection (e.g. interview, questionnaire, observation, field and laboratory study, experiment, simulation)
• basics Exposé for the Master thesis

Data Analysis
• univariate and multivariate data analysis
• predictive statistical data analysis (Machine Learning) and methodology of inferential statistics
• probability theory, information theory, Bayes Theorem
• system dynamics and agenda-based modeling
• application of methods of data analysis
• presentation and visualization of data

Students must carry out a project of 5 ECTS = 125 h independently in small groups. The basis for this is a set objective. The students are responsible for planning, coordination, budgeting, monitoring, communication and reporting as well as finding solutions. The role of the course leader is focused on coaching the students.

Students must independently complete a Master thesis of 20 ECTS = 500 h. Regular meetings to discuss the current status and progress of the Master thesis with the accompanying academic supervision serve as support.

In the context of a colloquium with the scope of 2 ECTS = 50h, the following course contents are dealt with:
• Independent preparation and elaboration of an interdisciplinary subject
• Finding and substantiation of the methodology
• Content-related and organizational support for the preparation of the Master thesis
• Presenting and defending academic papers
• Leading discussions on academic papers

• Information on the final Master's examination

The preparation for the final examination is included with 2 ECTS = 50h.

Examples and solution approaches from practice and research will be presented in lectures by experts as well as excursions to companies and research institutions. The students analyze and reflect on the presented input. The students transfer research findings in an exemplary manner for specific practical applications. Methods of research are discussed for problems from practice.

One blocked compact weeks in small groups with international students:
• Introduction, consolidation, background and examples in the complex of topics of the project within the framework of a conference or introductory event.
• Research and analysis of framework conditions and possibilities
• Development and visualization of ideas and concepts
• Presentation of the results to stakeholders and/or technical experts

Students must complete an accompanied study trip / trip abroad with a specialist program. Within the scope of the study trip / trip abroad, the following contents are taught:
• Introduction and consolidation of international Best - and Real Case projects from the Energy and Sustainability Management practice as well as studies from research
• Current topics of research and development by participation in international conferences
• Research and analysis of international Best Case projects for Energy and Sustainability Management
• Visit of international Best Case projects for Energy and Sustainability Management
• Application of intercultural skills and highlighting of particularities and challenges of intercultural projects for Energy and Sustainability Management

• Electrochemistry
• Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Electrical engineering
• Design, operation and characteristics of power generation plants

• Sector coupling
• Demonstration projects such as Smart City Lab
• Electricity grids
• Heat grids
• Power2X

Social aspects of mobility
• Infrastructure for sustainable mobility
• Economic and strategic implementation
• Analysis of international and national mobility projects
• Exemplary development of sustainable mobility concepts

• Occupational health and safety
o Workplace design and evaluation
o Dangerous working materials
o Rights and duties of employees and employers
o Tasks (focus on safety) of preventive services,
Safety officers and works council
• Fire protection
• Perimeter security and burglary protection
• Risk analyses and business continuity management
• Property security checks
• Security concepts

• Background of Smart Cities
• Definitions of the Smart City concept
• Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart People, Smart Living, Smart Governance
• Technical, organizational, economic and socio-cultural aspects of Smart Cities

• Requirements for a sustainable building in the planning and construction process as well as in operation
• Life cycle analyses
• National and international certification systems
• Ecological, economic and socio-cultural sustainability criteria in relation to buildings (e.g. flexibility and conversion capability)

• Requirements of building services engineering for building clusters and special properties
• Networked building services engineering
• Basics of thermal and energetic building and building services engineering simulation
• Simulation software
• Comparison of static and dynamic consideration

• Methods of Sustainability Assessment
• History & Stakeholders of the Energy Industry
• Quality Management
• Sustainability Management
• Energy, Climate Protection and Environmental Policy
• Energy, Climate Protection and Environmental Law
• Promotion Instruments and Marketing Concepts of Energy

• Trading cascade in the electricity and gas market
• Different markets for system services
• Fundamental factors influencing energy markets
• Markets for renewable energy sources
• Commodity futures trading
• Exchange vs. OTC
• OTC contracts
• CO2 trading markets
• Factors influencing the electricity price
• Merit order principle

• Strategic Business Management
o strategic pyramid (mission, vision and mission statement, goals, strategies) o strategic models, decision theories and competitive strategies
o tools of strategic analysis and planning (e.g. SWOT, portfolio analysis)

• Human Resource Management
o tasks of human resources work and personnel planning
o personnel costs including key figures, salary increase, participation models, forms of remuneration
o personnel assessment, motivation theories and personnel development
o leadership theories
o Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the workplace

• Technical and biological cycle for products
• Life cycle analysis (costs, energy, CO2)
• Economic models
• Political measures in connection with the circular economy and bioeconomy
• Waste management

• Corporate Strategies
• Trading and Procurement Strategies
• Standardized Exchange Products & Trading Markets
• Procurement in Electricity and Gas Markets
• Interaction of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electricity

• Sustainable innovations, eco-design and trends in the energy industry and energy technology as well as the sustainability industry
• Development status of technological trends
• Innovative business models in the energy and sustainability industry
• Value chain of the energy industry and sustainability industry
• Design Thinking
• Open Innovation

• Investment calculation and life cycle costing (dynamic and modern approaches)
• Credit financing (loans, bonds)
• Equity financing (shares)
•Financial institutions
• Derivatives
• Market risk and management
•Behavioral economics
• Financing and valuation of infrastructure and real estate

• Performance profiles and requirements, occupational profiles
• Capital market theories and objects as asset classes
• Performance measurement
• Due Diligence process
• Investment and potential analyses
• Asset management

• Business ethics
• Corporate (social) responsibility and compliance
• Structure of sustainability reports and reporting standards
• Functions and motives of environmental controlling
• Auditing of management systems (ISO 19011)
• Environmental management system ISO 14001, ISO 14044ff and EMAS
• Process modeling in the context of environmental and sustainability audits, environmental impact assessment, eco-labels and eco-labels

Strategic marketing
• conceptual foundations and theoretical approaches
• selected cases marketing strategies
• implementation and monitoring of marketing strategies

Citizen participation procedures
• actors and legal foundations
• methods for citizen participation
• selected cases citizen in citizen participation procedures

Business mediation and conflict management
• theories and concepts
• practical applications