The Engineering for the Energy Transition Master’s Degree Programme (hereinafter referred to as the CdLM) is an inter-class Master’s Degree Programme in the LM-24 class Building Systems Engineering and the LM-30 class Energy and Nuclear Engineering, offered in English. The CdLM aims to equip students with the skills necessary to address the energy transition, both in the field of building systems and in the industrial sector, through two specific curricula: 'Sustainable Building Design and Technology' and 'Sustainable Industrial Systems'. The CdLM is based on a strongly multidisciplinary experimental approach characterized by laboratory activities. The CdLM provides students with the tools necessary to comprehend both technical and technological aspects related to materials, components, and the complex building/energy plants system, as well as their interaction and integration with the environment in which they are embedded, and the contextual aspects of the transition related to administrative, economic, and social issues. The CdLM therefore trains professionals capable of operating in the field of energy design and management of building systems and in the industrial sector. The CdLM offers a set of skills that are useful for acquiring the technical and cultural expertise necessary to occupy positions of responsibility in the field of design, coordination, and management, both as freelancers and at companies and public or private entities, including research companies.

Educational objectives

Knowledge and Understanding

Area of cross-cutting disciplines

The preparation of graduates in Engineering for the Energy Transition is achieved through the following in-depth knowledge:

• Understanding complex relationships between energy systems, economic systems, the environment, landscape, and the local context.
• Knowledge of techniques used for economic or multi-criteria evaluations of energy projects.
• Knowledge of electrical systems for the production, distribution, and utilization of electrical energy, as well as an understanding of technologies enabling the energy transition towards renewable energy sources, the electrical energy vector, distributed generation, and electric mobility.
• Understanding the technologies used to harness renewable energy sources and an understanding of the role of specific energy and environmental scenarios.
• Knowledge of photovoltaic materials and systems and electrochemical and thermal systems for energy storage, as well as an understanding of environmental conditions and methods for using electrical energy.
   

Area of disciplines related to sustainable building design and technology

The acquired knowledge in this learning area extends and strengthens the competences and understanding capacities previously acquired in the cross-cutting disciplinary area, towards building systems. In particular, graduates will acquire:

• Knowledge of energy-saving regulations and thermotechnical systems for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration, and an understanding of their impact on the well-being of individuals;
• Knowledge of materials, regulations, design principles and methodologies for structural and architectural design of buildings;
• Knowledge of requirements and available technologies for the construction of building envelopes, and for their structural integration in the building-envelope and building-component systems;
• Decision and management capacities of design choices in the context of integrated systems for new or existing buildings;
• Rigorous understanding of ecosystems and their impact on buildings from an environmental, functional, energy consumption and emission minimization perspective;
• In-depth knowledge of the simulation and energy balance of buildings, of climatic effects, of procedural design steps and available technologies for buildings and building envelopes, also in terms of structural interaction;
• Knowledge of administrative procedures for the realization of photovoltaic plants.
   

Area of disciplines related to sustainable industrial systems

The acquired knowledge in this learning area extends and strengthens the competences and understanding capacities previously acquired in the cross-cutting disciplinary area, towards building systems. In particular, graduates will acquire:

• Knowledge of the energy systems used in industrial plants for the production, distribution, and utilization of heat and unconventional energy vectors, for the recovery of waste heat, and for refrigeration generation;
• In-depth knowledge of the fundamental principles for the design of wind and marine source-powered plants;
• In-depth knowledge of photovoltaic systems and electrical energy storage systems in electrochemical accumulators and hydrogen, as well as knowledge related to energy management systems;
• Knowledge of the characteristics and operation of fourth-generation nuclear reactors and nuclear fusion;
• Theoretical and practical knowledge to set up and solve Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies and use the results for the selection of materials, products, and processes through sustainability criteria;
• Knowledge of the development and operation of the electricity market;

• Knowledge of external combustion engines for distributed generation and energy recovery, gas microturbines, and heat pumps used in industrial settings.

   

Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding

Area of cross-cutting disciplines

Once graduates in Engineering for the Energy Transition have acquired the aforementioned knowledge, they will have the following capabilities:

• To infer the implications and impact of the evolution of key factors in the energy scenario and apply this knowledge to project development;
• To interpret the complexity of relationships between economic systems, the environment, social context, and to conduct economic evaluations of projects;
• To design electrical systems serving energy facilities and to choose the most suitable technologies for their management;
• To carry out preliminary quantitative assessments for plants powered by different renewable sources based on the application and specific environmental conditions;
• To size a photovoltaic generator and its storage device to optimize the system both from an energy and economic perspective.
   

Area of disciplines related to sustainable building design and technology

Once the above-described knowledge is acquired, graduates in Engineering for the Energy Transition will have the following abilities:

• To simulate and design building envelopes and HVAC systems in compliance with current regulations;
• To design the building envelope and its structural integration;
• To analyse the requirements and to translate them into performance requirements for the building, in terms of structural and architectural design choices;
• To choose and apply appropriate methods and software for the structural and energetic analysis, for the specific application;
• To understand the constraints and be able to choose the appropriate procedure for the realization of photovoltaic plants.
   

Area of disciplines related to sustainable industrial systems

Once the above-described knowledge is acquired, graduates in Engineering for the Energy Transition will have the following abilities:

• To solve problems of energy analysis in an industrial context;
• To size the structural elements of a wind plant and those of marine energy plants and evaluate their performance;
• To design photovoltaic systems and energy storage systems and determine their performance;
• To conduct LCA analyses and select materials with sustainability criteria using professional software;
• To understand the effects of an energy policy and analyse the economic feasibility of investments in the electricity production sector;
• To carry out preliminary quantitative assessments regarding the use of gas microturbines and heat pumps.

Career Prospects

Employment and professional opportunities for graduates

Energy Transition Engineer – Sustainable building design and technology

Graduates possess a technical and cultural background that enables them to assume roles of considerable responsibility, grounded in a robust scientific and engineering education and marked by strong interdisciplinarity. Career opportunities for Energy Transition Engineers in the building sector exist across organisations required to appoint a manager responsible for the conservation and rational use of energy, as well as within organisations upgrading their buildings and building-services systems to achieve energy, economic and environmental sustainability. Additional opportunities include independent practice, design consultancies, research bodies, public and private sector organisations, companies and industries operating in the energy and construction sectors.
 

Energy Transition Engineer – Sustainable industrial systems

Graduates possess a technical and cultural background that enables them to assume roles of considerable responsibility, grounded in a robust scientific and engineering education and marked by strong interdisciplinarity. Career opportunities for Energy Transition Engineers in industrial systems exist across organisations required to appoint a manager responsible for the conservation and rational use of energy, as well as within organisations adapting their industrial processes and plant to ensure energy, economic and environmental sustainability. Further opportunities include independent practice, design consultancies, research bodies, public and private sector organisations, companies and industries operating in the energy and industrial-process sectors.

 

Competences Associated with Each Role

Energy Transition Engineer – Sustainable building design and technology

The competences of Energy Transition Engineers in the building sector relate to activities in several settings: construction sites, professional design practices, and public administration.

In particular, the programme aims to develop the following general competences:

• Renewable energy sources and associated technologies for exploitation and storage. Based on knowledge of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass energy, graduates can estimate the energy yield of plants powered by these renewable sources and select the most appropriate technology for a given application;
• Electrical systems. Graduates understand the fundamentals of electricity generation, distribution and use, and can integrate electrical installations, photovoltaic (PV) systems and electric-vehicle charging systems within energy projects;
• Heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems in buildings. With the skills required to calculate winter and summer thermal loads, graduates can select and design systems in compliance with the legislative framework and relevant technical standards;
• Building thermal loads, energy balances and building–services simulation. By determining energy flows—including with regard to ongoing climate change—graduates can define building energy balances and apply methodologies to simulate the building–plant system, thereby informing energy-system design;
• Structural safety, compatibility, functionality and sustainability of building projects. Drawing on knowledge of product carbon footprints, structural and architectural design of building elements and systems, integrated use of construction materials and technologies, and devices and systems for smart energy management, graduates can define project requirements for smart, safe, resilient, climate-adaptable, structurally functional and low-energy buildings;
• Structural and architectural conception, building envelopes and their structural integration within the building–envelope system (new build and existing stock). With these skills, graduates can make foundational assessments and choices in complex building-system design, evaluate the structural requirements of envelopes, design them as secondary structural systems, and integrate them effectively into existing or new buildings. They can also manage the design of integrated building-services systems and related ancillary structures;
• Building Information Modelling (BIM). Once trained in digital modelling, graduates can transfer the digital information model to the construction site through the creation of a digital twin supporting construction, operation, evaluation and maintenance;
• Multidisciplinary contextual knowledge. Graduates understand the complex relationships between energy systems, the economic system, the environmental ecosystem and the social context, enabling them to identify and manage boundary conditions for sound energy-system design. This includes knowledge of the effects of anthropogenic emissions on global warming and related risks, mitigation actions, European legislation on the energy transition, the energy value chain and energy markets, and project economic appraisal;
• Soft skills. Graduates develop communication, interpersonal, managerial and practical abilities.
   

Energy Transition Engineer – Sustainable industrial systems

The competences of Energy Transition Engineers in industrial systems relate to activities in several settings: construction sites, industry, professional design practices, and public administration.

In particular, the programme aims to develop the following general competences:

• Renewable energy sources and associated technologies for exploitation and storage. Based on knowledge of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass energy, graduates can estimate the energy yield of plants powered by these renewable sources and select the most appropriate technology for a given application;
• Electrical systems and the electricity market. Graduates understand the fundamentals of electricity generation, distribution and use, and can integrate electrical installations, PV systems, electrical-energy storage and electric-vehicle charging systems within energy projects;
• Heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems in buildings. With the skills required to calculate winter and summer thermal loads, graduates can select and design systems in compliance with the legislative framework and relevant technical standards;
• Energy systems in industrial plants. Graduates understand the fundamentals of the generation, distribution and use of heat and of non-conventional energy carriers, and can integrate generation components, energy-storage systems, waste-heat recovery and cooling-production systems in energy projects;
• Sustainability of products and industrial processes. With knowledge of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), carbon footprints, and the criticalities and sustainability of materials, graduates can select processes and materials according to environmental, economic and social sustainability criteria;
• The role of hydrogen in the energy transition. Building on fundamentals of electrochemistry, hydrogen production methods and regulatory frameworks, graduates can carry out preliminary sizing of systems including electrolysers and fuel cells;
• In-depth knowledge of wind and photovoltaic plants, the technologies driving the global transition towards renewable energy. With an understanding of primary resources—wind and solar radiation—graduates can design these plants and select and size the inverters required for grid connection;
• External-combustion machines for distributed generation and energy recovery, gas microturbines and industrial heat pumps. With knowledge of operating principles and design and operational aspects, graduates can select machines suited to specific applications and forecast their performance;
• Multidisciplinary contextual knowledge. Graduates acquire the understanding needed to interpret the complex relationships between energy systems, the economic system, the environmental ecosystem and the social context, enabling them to identify and manage boundary conditions for sound energy-system design. This includes knowledge of the effects of anthropogenic emissions on global warming and related risks, mitigation actions, European legislation on the energy transition, the energy value chain and energy markets, and project economic appraisal;
• Soft skills. Graduates develop communication, interpersonal, managerial and practical abilities.

 

Role in the Workplace

Energy Transition Engineer – Sustainable building design and technology

Energy Transition Engineers in the building sector are high-profile professionals who, thanks to a rigorous scientific and technical education with a strong interdisciplinary character, can design, implement and manage energy systems in building contexts, combining these abilities with solid contextual knowledge—administrative, economic and social—in line with national and EU sustainability objectives within a complex and constantly evolving legislative and regulatory framework. They are also able to coordinate other professionals operating in the building-energy field.

The principal functions typically align with the following professional profiles:

• Manager of energy systems in the building sector. Responsible for the design, implementation and management of building systems. This role requires passing the State Examination and registration with the Order of Engineers (Section A, relevant sector);
• Manager for the conservation and rational use of energy (Energy Manager). Appointed within a public or private organisation, this professional ensures the rational use of energy by verifying and optimising energy consumption and procurement from both environmental and economic perspectives;
• Energy Management Expert (EGE) – civil sector. A professional with technical competences in energy, environmental and economic-financial matters. This role requires an accreditation certificate;
• Independent professional. Responsible for the design, coordination and site management of construction works, including site safety and fire safety. Graduates may also work as consultants in the public and private sectors. This role requires passing the State Examination and registration with the Order of Engineers (Section A, relevant sector);
• Research programme manager. Develops products and systems that support and accelerate the energy transition;
• Sustainability adviser. Guides organisations in identifying sustainable practices in the built-environment domain.
   

Energy Transition Engineer – Sustainable industrial systems

Energy Transition Engineers in industrial systems are high-profile professionals who, thanks to a rigorous scientific and technical education with a strong interdisciplinary character, can design, implement and manage energy systems in industrial contexts, combining these abilities with solid contextual knowledge—administrative, economic and social—in line with national and EU sustainability objectives within a complex and constantly evolving legislative and regulatory framework. They are also able to coordinate other professionals operating in industrial energy systems.

The principal functions typically align with the following professional profiles:

• Manager of energy systems in the industrial sector. Responsible for the design, implementation and management of industrial systems. This role requires passing the State Examination and registration with the Order of Engineers (Section A, relevant sector);
• Manager for the conservation and rational use of energy (Energy Manager). Appointed within a public or private organisation, this professional ensures the rational use of energy by verifying and optimising energy consumption and procurement from both environmental and economic perspectives;
• Energy Management Expert (EGE) – industrial sector. A professional with technical competences in energy, environmental and economic-financial matters. This role requires an accreditation certificate;
• Independent professional. Responsible for the design, coordination and site management of energy systems in industrial settings. Graduates may also work as consultants in the public and private sectors. This role requires passing the State Examination and registration with the Order of Engineers (Section A, relevant sector);
• Research programme manager. Develops products and systems that support and accelerate the energy transition;
• Sustainability adviser. Guides organisations in identifying sustainable practices in industrial systems.

Final examination and degree

Characteristics of the final examination

The final assessment consists of a substantial project- or methodology-based undertaking that culminates in a written dissertation (Master’s dissertation). Through the dissertation, graduands must demonstrate mastery of the topics addressed, the ability to work autonomously, and a high standard of communication.

The subject chosen must be pertinent to the fields covered by the Master’s Degree Programme and is carried out under the guidance of an internal supervisor, with the possible support of one or more co-supervisors, who may also be external to the University—particularly in the case of dissertations prepared in collaboration with external organisations.