Energy and Renewable Energy Engineering

What is the objective of the course? What is it?
What does it train you for?

The specific objective of the Bachelor's Degree in Energy and Renewable Sources Engineering at University of Palermo is to train an engineer with the skills to operate adequately in the fields of electrical, energy and even nuclear engineering, with in-depth knowledge of the principles underlying the processes of production, distribution, management and use of energy in its various forms: electrical, nuclear, thermal and from alternative and renewable sources, of the related components and systems, of the related environmental, economic, regulatory and safety implications.

The envisaged educational pathway also considers recent trends towards the decarbonization of energy cycles and the development and diffusion of technologies with reduced environmental impact.

It shares with the other industrial engineering degrees offered at the location the basic subjects and some common characterizing subjects and envisages a greater emphasis on training in the characterizing disciplines of electrical engineering, energy engineering and nuclear engineering as well as industrial safety and security engineering.

In order to respect the diversity of the fields of application, the course then delves into further specific aspects of the individual characterizing fields of application.

The Course is also enriched with related subjects that complete the planned training.

What do you learn?

The Bachelor's Degree program includes:

1. Basic training activities mainly in the fields of mathematics, physics and chemistry and characterizing, in particular computer-aided technical drawing, construction science and computational methods for engineering;
2. Common training activities specific to the proposed training pathway concerning in particular: materials technology, environmental physics, energy, principles of electrical engineering, electrical components and systems, renewable energy sources;
3. Differentiated training activities for the curricula to deepen knowledge in the relevant fields:
   • Electrical: electrical machines, electrical instrumentation and measurements, electrical systems, electronics and home automation applications, smart grids, distributed power generation from renewables.
   • Energy: energy planning and management, energy assessment and certification, thermomechanical measurements, environmental comfort control, machines, building thermos-physics, industrial thermal uses of renewables;
   • Technology and production: principles of nuclear engineering, thermos-hydraulics, safety and risk analysis, machinery, thermos-mechanics, fossil fuels.

The training is supplemented, within the teachings that require it or also through seminars, by notions of statistics, economic-business culture, mechanical technologies, with specific reference to the applications of interest.

What can you do with it?

Occupational perspectives include employment in:

• Institutional and private companies dealing with the provision of complete energy services, not limited to the supply of electricity but also gas, heat, servicing (also financial) as well as turnkey plants - public administration (technical offices, energy managers, authorities);
• A large number of manufacturing companies operating in the energy and energy machinery sector;
• Freelance professionals in professional firms or companies that design, manage or install energy and electrical systems, deal with energy certification and environmental impact assessments.

Graduates in Energy and Renewable Energy Engineering, after passing the State Examination, can enroll in the Register of Engineers, with the title of Junior Engineer.

Intense is the activity related to both the design and implementation, testing and management of thermal, electrical, cogeneration, trigeneration, and air-conditioning systems for environmental control in civil, tertiary, and industrial buildings, etc., as well as the fulfilment of technical and environmental authorizations for the implementation and management of systems using renewable energy sources.

The extension of studies can continue naturally and without Additional Training Obligations in the Master’s Degree Courses in ‘Electrical Engineering’ and ‘Energy and Nuclear Engineering’ at the University of Palermo.