Bachelor of Engineering (Energy Systems)

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Course Overview

Energy Systems Engineers are the people who are transforming the way we use, store and produce energy, meeting the world's growing energy needs, protecting the environment, and increasing energy security. This course prepares you with the fundamentals of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering, hands-on labs in our state-of-the-art facilities, energy-focused classes on topics like zero carbon energy systems, fuels and hydrogen, zero energy buildings, smart grids, and more. Individual and group projects aligned with community and industry partners throughout the course enables you to explore the energy and environment challenge in hands-on, practical and meaningful ways. All students undertake an 8-month industry work placement as part of the Energy Systems Engineering programme.

Work placement

All Energy Systems Engineering students undertake a work placement for eight months. Energy Systems Engineering employers include ESB, SSE, Thermo King, DP Energy, Wood, EirGrid, Shell, Medtronic, CIÉ, Medtronic, Fingleton White, and Boston Scientific. In the unlikely event that no external placement is available, students will be given projects on campus. We also provide opportunities for students to pursue international work placements. Many of our students have completed their work placement overseas, in places like the UK, the USA, Germany, South America and Australia.

Study Abroad

Fourth-year students have the opportunity to participate in a one-semester Erasmus exchange with the University of Seville in Spain. Other exchanges with European universities are being established over the coming years. Energy Systems Engineering students can also participate in courses run by the ENLIGHT Erasmus+ project, which has partner universities in Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Career Opportunities

Energy Systems Engineering graduates are ideally suited for careers in power generation and transmission, smart grid design and roll-out, green hydrogen, energy supply management, design of energy-efficient products and processes, sustainable transformation of organisations, communities and businesses, development and roll-out of renewable fuels and infrastructure, design of sustainable transport, environmental protection, and research. They are employed at some of the world’s leading companies including ESB, EM3, Toyota, Gas Networks Ireland, EirGrid, Accenture, Kingspan, Carbon Trust, SSE, Deutsche Bahn, and General Electric.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

Year 1

Year 1 brings all students to the same level of understanding of maths, applied maths, physics, chemistry, introduces the foundational engineering skills of design, technical graphics, programming, and exposes all students to all engineering disciplines, including Energy Systems Engineering.

• Engineering Calculus
• Engineering Mechanics
• Engineering Chemistry
• Engineering Graphics
• Engineering Computing 1
• Fundamentals of Engineering
• Engineering Mathematical Methods
• Engineering Design
• Engineering Computing II
• Engineering Physics

Year 2

In Year 2, students learn the foundational engineering sciences behind Energy Systems Engineering, including: thermo-fluids, electrical circuits, materials, how machines work. Students learn how energy is used in buildings and work with local NGOs to do small-scale Energy Systems Engineering design projects. Students ae exposed to more advanced programming.

• Mathematics and Applied Mathematics I
• Engineering Statistics
• Thermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics
• Electronic Instrumentation and Sensors
• Principles of Building
• Community Engaged Building Project
• Strength of Materials
• Mathematics and Applied Mathematics II
• Electrical Circuits and Systems
• Introduction to Modelling
• Theory of Machines and CADD

Year 3

Year 3 sees a real energy focus with wind and solar systems, hydro & ocean technology, designing zero energy buildings, understanding the details of how engines and turbines work, biofuels and biomass. Students will perform group projects on some of these topics.

• Energy Systems Electrical Design Project
• Design of Energy Systems for the Built Environment
• Linear Control Systems
• Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
• Electromechanical Power Conversion
• Fluid Dynamics
• Sustainable Energy
• Power Electronics
• Microprocessor Systems Engineering
• Combustion Science and Engineering
• Turbomachines and Advanced Fluid Dynamics
• Energy in Buildings

Year 4

Semester 1 is an intensification of Year 3, and includes energy-water challenges. There is an optional Erasmus exchange with a European university in Year 4. For semester 2 and summer, students have an 8-month full-time internship as an Energy Systems Engineer. This could be in the energy sector or it could be in another industry working to decarbonise or reduce energy demand.

• Mechanical Analysis and Design
• Design of Sustainable Environmental Systems 1
• Energy Conversion
• CFD module
• Object Oriented Programming
• Power Systems
• 8-month Paid Work Placement
• Project Management for Engineers
• Professional Skills

Year 5 (Masters year)

Students tackle advanced Energy Systems Engineering topics including energy storage, designing, and modelling nationwide energy systems, nuclear energy, green hydrogen, smart grids, and year-long individual energy systems research project. Students are also exposed to economics, policy, climate science, entrepreneurship, and research skills.

• Mandatory modules
• Energy Systems Engineering Project
• Advanced Energy Systems Engineering
• Global Change
• Renewable Energy Economics and Policy
• Smart Grid
• Optional technical modules (choose 1 or 2)
• Systems Modelling and Simulation
• Digital Control Systems
• Design of Sustainable Environmental Systems 2
• Optional profession modules (choose 1 or 2)

Curriculum Information

Further Education

Energy Systems Engineering students can choose to graduate with an Honours Bachelors degree (Level 8) after 4 years or a Masters degree (Level 9) after 5 years. The Masters degree satisfies the educational requirement for Chartered Engineer, which enables even greater international mobility and earning potential for graduates. Graduates can also apply to PhD research positions at the University of Galway, which is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in Energy Systems Engineering research. Our academic staff play leading roles in the Ryan Institute, MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, as well as many energy research projects funded by industry, the Irish Government, the European Union, and others.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

Fees: Tuition

Fees: Student Contribution

Fees: Student levy

Fees: Non EU

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