Sustainable Chemistry and Renewable Energy
€910.00
This course explores the close interlinkages between sustainable chemistry, renewable energy systems and climate change mitigation. You will gain a comprehensive overview of renewable energy technologies and the resources required for their large-scale deployment, with a particular focus on wind and solar energy. The course highlights critical material demands, potential supply bottlenecks and resource management challenges, and discusses how sustainability considerations can be integrated into renewable energy production to avoid unintended trade-offs and rebound effects.
A central focus of the course is the role of renewable energy in transforming the chemical industry towards greenhouse gas neutrality. You will explore Power-to-X technologies, including the chemical utilisation of carbon dioxide and hydrogen from renewable sources, as pathways to produce chemicals and fuels without fossil carbon feedstocks. In addition, the course provides insight into Germany’s and Europe’s energy transition (Energiewende), examining energy policy objectives, economic implications, and the role of renewable energies in reshaping the energy system. By linking technological, economic and policy perspectives, the course equips participants to critically assess future energy and chemical production pathways.
Course Contents
- Overview of renewable energy technologies and sustainability considerations
- Raw materials and critical resources for renewable energy production (with a focus on wind and solar)
- Role of sustainable chemistry in renewable energy systems and climate change mitigation
- Feedstock and energy use profiles of the chemical industry and pathways to reduce fossil dependency
- Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) and sources of carbon dioxide
- Power-to-X technologies: hydrogen production, Power-to-Gas, Power-to-Chemicals, and Power-to-Liquids
- Techno-economic and life cycle assessment of CCU and Power-to-X pathways
- Environmental, economic, and social impacts of Power-to-X and CO₂ utilisation
- Energy system transformation in Germany and Europe: policy goals, economic effects, and progress
Course Structure
Duration: five weeks
Structure: The course is divided into five phases.
Live Sessions: The course includes three live webinars, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. Live sessions are held in the afternoon (usually at 5:00 pm CEST) to accommodate working professionals. Exact dates will be announced before the course begins. All live sessions are recorded and made available on Moodle for participants who cannot attend live.
Assessment: You will work through the course materials and complete the assigned tasks in each phase at your own pace. The course is assessed through a portfolio exam that compiles all phase tasks and is submitted at the end of the course.
Who should attend
This course is suitable for professionals working in chemistry, chemical engineering, energy systems, sustainability, climate policy or industrial transformation. It is particularly relevant for those involved in renewable energy deployment, low-carbon chemical production, resource management or sustainability strategy development.
| is restricted access: | Yes |
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| Requirements - university entrance qualification: | Not required |
| Requirements - one year of work experience: | Required |
| Requirements Language: | English: TOEFL Internet (92 points); IELTS (Acad. Level 6.5 points); CAE/CPE (Level C1, Grade B); TOEIC (720 points listening/reading, 310 points speaking/writing); if necessary, individual examination. |
| Requirements Expertise: | Knowledge of chemistry, biology & environment |
| Other requirements |
1) Training as a chemical-technical assistant or pharmaceutical-technical assistant OR 2) B.Sc. in Chemistry, Pharmacy or similar
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| Topic: | Engineering & Natural Sciences, Sustainability, Energy & Environment |
| Format of course: | Online |
| Level: | Master |
| Course language: | English |
| Study programme |
Sustainable Chemistry
Go to study program website
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| Number of credit points / ECTS: | 5 |
| Workload Contact time (in hours): | 8 |
| Workload self-study time (in hours): | 117 |
| Examination: | In-class examination |
| Exam format: | Portfolio |
| Further exam format: | No further Exam |
| Qualifikationsziele |
In this course, you will acquire substantive knowledge about and skills in:
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