Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering: Industry Decarbonisation – CAS

Industry and energy professionals seeking to acquire the skills and tools to build sustainable energy systems and accelerate the energy transition.
A good technical background in engineering and/or mathematics is essential as advanced data analysis and modelling techniques are widely used in the programme.

Reducing CO2 emissions and optimising energy systems without compromising competitiveness is a major challenge for many industries. Given the long and heavy investment cycles involved, there is an urgent need for industrial companies to start transforming their operations by applying sustainable engineering practices today.

Energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen use, advanced conversion technologies, water-waste-energy nexus models, urban energy system optimisation are just a few of the options available. However, a holistic approach is essential to achieve symbiosis between production sites and the circular economy. How can your company develop a systemic approach to energy efficiency and decarbonisation of industrial processes?

Upskill to lead the industrial energy transition now. Completing the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Industry Decarbonisation is a real opportunity to advance your career, as there is a significant need for highly skilled professionals who can holistically implement sustainable energy systems and decarbonise industrial processes.

For those aiming to pursue advanced specialisation, the CAS is also a first step into the following two advanced programs:

• Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering
• Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) in Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering: Industry Decarbonisation

• Be able to conduct energy audits that analyze and measure the energetics of a production process, considering thermodynamical, economical and environmental impacts
• Identify options for decarbonisation and process efficiency improvement as, technological changes, CO2 capture & sequestration, heat recovery & valorisation, optimisation of energy supply, renewable energy integration, waste-water-energy management
• Acquire tools and methods for implementing decarbonisation solutions in industrial processes
• Adopt a holistic approach integrating the company’s industrial process with the main energy infrastructure and the surrounding industrial and urban system

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering: Industry Decarbonisation combines face-to-face and synchronous online teaching and consists of:

• Asynchronous online teaching (~80h)
• Flipped classroom instruction (~27h)
• Practical group project workshops (~60)
• Practical group project (~120h) with a group report production
• Individual oral assessment

This Certificate of Advanced Studies is one of the CASs recognized in the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering. More information here.

Title obtained: Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering: Industry Decarbonisation delivered by EPFL, 10 ECTS credits.

WELCOME DAY
Fri. February 14, 2025, Energypolis

• Teaching staff and peers introduction
• Programme and teaching approach presentation
• Online platform starter kit

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ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE TEACHING (to be prepared before the on-site lectures and activities)
Self-paced from February to June 2025, supplemented by coaching sessions with academic advisors

• Objectives: Upgrade knowledge and acquire a solid theoretical foundation, necessary to develop a systemic thinking and approach to energy efficiency and decarbonisation of industrial processes
• Topics: Energy audits / Process integration / Industry decarbonisation / Fuel cells / Power to X systems / Compressors and heat pumps / Turbines and thermal cycles in industry / Industrial heat / Biomass conversion / Bio-refineries / CO2 capture adsorption systems / Membrane based gas separation systems

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ON-SITE LECTURES AND ACTIVITIES

Week 1
ENERGY AUDITS
Mon. March 17 to March 21, 2025, Energypolis

• Flipped class: application of online learning (discussions, case studies, hands-on exercises, etc.)
• Practical group project workshop: Energy audit methodology / Process definition & efficiency improvement / Sustainability metrics (KPIs) / Process & energy system integration
  

Week 2
HEAT RECOVERY & ENERGY CONVERSION
Mon. April 28 to Fri. May 2, 2025, Energypolis

• Flipped class: application of online learning
• Practical group project workshop: Energy requirments of a process / Heat recovery (pinch analysis) & optimisation / Heat exchanger network / Industrial heat, combined heat & power technologies / Water minimisation & recovery

Week 3
INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS & CO2 CAPTURE
Mon. June 2 to Fri. June 6, 2025 Energypolis

• Flipped class: application of online learning
• Practical group project workshop: Renewable energy integration / Fuel cells & electrolysis / Biomass conversion / Waste minimisation & valorisation / CO2 capture, use, sequestration & mineralisation / Industrial symbiosis / Energy infrastructure interaction & integration

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PRACTICAL GROUP PROJECT AND EVALUATION

• Objectives: Collaborative work (group of 3) addressing a real-world energy challenge to gain practical experience in sustainable energy system modeling, research and proposal development
• Project overview: Research & documentation / Expert opinions / On-Site investigation / Solution proposal / Calculation and optimization / Holistic view
• Evaluation: Production of a group report and individual oral assessment

• Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering (IPESE), School of Engineering (STI), EPFL, Switzerland
• Institute of Sustainable Energy, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Switzerland
• Energy Center (CEN), EPFL, Switzerland

Programme Academic Directors

• Prof François Maréchal, Head of Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering group, EPFL
• Prof. Manuele Margni, Institute of Sustainable Energy, HES-SO Valais-Wallis

Steering Committee

• Prof. François Maréchal, Head of Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering group, EPFL
• Prof. Manuele Margni, Institute of Sustainable Energy, HES-SO Valais-Wallis
• Prof. Gaëtan Cherix, Director of the School of Engineering (HEI), HES-SO Valais-Wallis
• Prof. Sophia Haussener, Head of the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering, EPFL
• Dr. Yasmine Calisesi, Executive Director of the EPFL Energy Center
• Rigas Hadzilacos, Deputy Executive Director of Formation Continue UNIL-EPFL

CAS Academic Leadership

• Prof. François Maréchal, EPFL
• Prof. Jessen Page, HES-SO

Contact

For academic questions :
Dr. Jean-Marie Fürbringer, Program Executive Director of MAS, DAS and CAS Sustainable Energy Systems Engineering
sustainable.energy@epfl.ch

Course venue

• Online
• Onsite: Energypolis, Sion, Switzerland
  

Course fee

10 000.– Swiss francs*
* Payment in instalments possible

Admission requirements

EPF or HES Master’s degree, or another degree (in a field related to the program) deemed equivalent by the Steering Committee*

* Exceptionally, candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for admission, provided they can demonstrate a sufficient level of qualification with another engineering degree in a relevant domain and at least 5 years’ professional experience in the field.

Registration

Admission on file to submit to Formation Continue UNIL-EPFL. Please join to the registration form:

• Letter of motivation
• CV
• Copies of diplomas obtained
  

Registration deadline

November 18, 2024
Number of participants is limited.

• Energies go Green, article (in English and French) published in the EPFL magazine “Dimension” on March 14, 2024