Renewable Energy - bachelor

180 credits, taught in Norwegian. Contact: Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management (INA), www.umb.no/ina

The challenges linked to climate change and increasing energy requirements have generated considerable interest in renewable energy. More and more energy companies are now investing heavily in bioenergy and wind power. In addition, many small-scale power plants are being constructed. When establishing new facilities for renewable energy production, financial, technological and environmental considerations must be integrated and balanced to enable successful solutions. The bachelors programme in Renewable Energy is an interdisciplinary study programme designed to provide you with comprehensive expertise in the field of renewable energy, with an emphasis on planning and production of bioenergy, hydro power and wind power. The programme includes such subjects as energy technology, economics, law, spatial planning, natural science, environmental science and resource management. Important aspects of renewable energy production include planning, technological alternatives, communication with special interest groups, environmental as well as financial considerations. Thus, group work, project assignments and problem-based learning make up an important part of instruction within the programme.The energy sector has a considerable demand for graduates with expertise in the field of renewable energy. Most of such graduates find employment in energy companies, consulting firms, organisations and public administration related to renewable energy. The interdisciplinary bachelor\'s programme qualifies students for master studies in Renewable Energy, Forest Science, Natural Resource Management, Economy, Environmental or Land Use Management either at UMB or other universities.

Admission requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway.

Internationalisation, studies abroad and exhange agreements
Climate change and the need for more renewable energy are global challenges, and the study focuses on both Norwegian and international issues. Many of the courses have literature in English, and some courses may be taught in English on request. About 30% of the students at the department choose to take part of their education at a foreign university.The programme schedule has been designed to enable a study-abroad period. By moving a single course, students have the possibility to spend the spring semester of the 3rd year abroad. With some additional planning, it is possible to spend an entire year abroad. Courses taken abroad can either be approved as replacements for compulsory courses or included in the students portfolio of elective courses.

The target group for the Bachelor in Renewable Energy is mainly Norwegian speaking students, but several of the subjects are given in English upon request. This enables us to offer courses to students coming from partner universities. Guest students may also choose on a broad spectre of English subjects for optional credits.

Related studies
To a certain degree, several other programmes offered at UMB resemble the bachelor\'s programme in Renewable Energy: * Environmental Physics and Renewable Energy (5-year master\'s programme) * Energy and Environmental Physics * Forest Sciences * Ecology and Management of Natural Resources * Business Administration * Economics * Spatial Planning * Environment and Natural Resources Compared to the other study options, the bachelor\'s programme in Renewable Energy is characterised by its interdisciplinary approach, combining knowledge from a wide range of disciplines. Compared to the bachelor\'s programmes Environment and Natural Resources, Forest Sciences and Ecology and Management of Natural Resources, this programme includes more social sciences and fewer courses in the natural sciences. Compared to the study in Environmental Physics and Renewable Energy, the program is much less oriented towards technology. Comparable study programmes in renewable energy at other Norwegian and Nordic universities are not as interdisciplinary as the UMB programme, but rather have a more clear-cut engineering or economic profile.

Learning goals
A candidate who has completed the education is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in competence, knowledge and skills: Competence: - Has a solid multidisciplinary foundation. - Understand the need for cooperation and conflict resolution across diciplines. - Should be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Knowledge: - Understand value chains and planning processes related to area based renewable energy resources. - Are able to work with cross disciplinary problems in relation to economic, spatial and environmental aspects of energy production based on renewable resources. Skills: - Are able to combine and use knowledge from environmental science, natural resource management, economy, spatial planning, environmental law and energy technology on problems related to renewable energy production. - Can participate in problem solving with regards to analysis, planning, project tasking, and operation of renewable energy sources.

Teaching and evaluation methods
In addition to ordinary lectures and guest lectures, there is a strong focus on problem-based teaching, group work, project work, independent projects, seminars, excursions, laboratory teaching and field work.The evaluation methods are varied and consist of written or oral exams, evaluation of reports, student presentations and participation/reports from mandatory activities.

Programme content
The duration of the Bachelor program is three years and consists of 180 credits (ECTS). Of those, 150 credits are mandatory, while 30 credits can be used for different elective courses. The first academic year includes compulsory courses in Mathematics (MATH100), Examen Philosophicum (PHI100), Physics (FYS100), Chemistry (KJM100), Economics (BUS100), Ecology (ECOL100) and Law (JUS100), together with an introduction course within Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (MINA100). Second academic year all students take courses within Energy Systems and Technologies (FORN200), Bioenergy (FORN210), Natural Resource Management (NATF200), Forest Management (SKOG102), Statistics (STAT100) and Economy (ECN110 and ECN170). The third academic year students may choose more individually. The compulsory courses are Greenhouse Gas Accounting, Life Cycle Analysis and Climate Policies (FORN220), Energy policy and markets (FORN230), Spatial Planning (APL250) and Law (JUS220).

Spesialisation requirements
The specialisation requirements consist of: APL250 Spatial Planning (15 credits), FORN210 Bioenergy (5 credits), FORN220 Life Cycle Analysis and Climate Policies (10 credits), FORN230 Energy policy and markets (5 credits), ECN170 Environmental and Resource Economics (5 credits), FORN200 Energy Systems and Technologies (10 credits), JUS220 Environmental Law (5 credits), NATF200 Nature Conservation and Management in Norway (5 credits). In addition there are 30 credits for students to choose courses within their own interest. Example plans are made to help students choose their elective courses.

Student advising

Evaluation