Renewable Energy Systems - Environmental and Process Engineering
Germany is at the forefront of renewable energy technologies, and Hamburg is a leading centre for renewable energy industries and research institutions.
HAW Hamburg is a key player in the city’s energy cluster, and renewable energy engineering is a major discipline supported by teaching and research at the university’s energy campus.
The international Master's degree course in Renewable Energy Systems looks at the technology and engineering of wind, solar and bio-energy systems as well as downstream systems for energy transformation and distribution. The course’s focus is on systems engineering. In addition, graduates learn process simulation techniques and can also develop their business and management skills. The course is made up of two semesters of theory and practical lab work and a six-month Master thesis in industry.
Good reasons to study Renewable Energy Systems at HAW Hamburg
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HAW Hamburg has a strong teaching and research track record in the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency. We cover various aspects of renewable energy systems engineering, from solar power to biofuels, biogas, wind turbines, fuel cells and smart grids, to name but a few. Many of our research projects on energy engineering are related to the university’s Competence Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CC4E) and our new Energy Technology Centre. If you join us, you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art expertise.
Further, Hamburg has a Renewable Energy Cluster, frequently hosts international conferences and trade fairs on solar and wind power, and is a key hub for the European wind power industry.
Our Master’s degree course in Renewable Energy Systems – Environmental and Process Engineering was established in 2009 and is well-regarded by our industrial partners. Students usually do their Master thesis in an industrial setting. Graduates have excellent career prospects in Germany, Europe’s most powerful economy.
The right course for you?
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This Master’s degree course in Renewable Energy Systems is centred specifically around systems engineering rather than focusing on more general science. It is open to those who hold a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree in environmental engineering, process engineering or related engineering sub-fields, such as electrical or mechanical engineering.
Sound knowledge of mathematics, physics, IT, electrical engineering, thermodynamics, (environmental) process engineering and CAD are entry requirements for this course. Candidates also need demonstrable knowledge of specialist course-relevant engineering subjects.
Course content and structure
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This Master's degree course comprises advanced modules in the technology and engineering of:
- Bioenergy systems
- Solar energy systems
- Wind energy systems
- Downstream systems for energy transformation and distribution
The course’s main emphasis is on systems engineering, alongside enhanced mathematical and IT skills and the acquisition of process simulation techniques and business and management competencies. All course content features an applied approach. In addition to lectures, project and lab work is an essential aspect of the programme. Students can get involved in local and international collaborations run by the Faculty of Life Sciences.
The course’s first two semesters consist of small-group lectures, seminars and lab work. Students will complete individual projects on a range of topics and lab work on set research assignments.
You complete your Master thesis in your third semester, usually in an industrial setting with an organisation in the renewables sector. Each semester is worth a total of 30 credit points. See the links below for further details.
Admission requirements
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The admission requirements are as follows:
- First degree as Bachelor (in related disciplines) qualifying for a professional career or a comparable course of studies or a Diploma from a university with 210 CP.
- Knowledge of English language proven by Abitur - or Fachhochschulzeugnis (s. Auswahlordnung) or accepted certificates: TOEFL test (at least 87 points Internet-based), IELTS (minimum Band 5.5) or CAE, CPE, FCE (minimum C) or certificates about good performance in foreign countries.
- German language certificate level A2 from recognised institutions such as Goethe-Institut
- Applicants holding a first academic degree (Bachelor, Diploma etc.) from non-EU-countries: Graduate Record Examination (GRE); further information at www.gre.org.
Additional papers to be submitted:
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of particular professional work experience or scientific achievements (papers, awards, etc.)
Documents you may submit (optional):
- none
Important note for applicants with 180 CPs (ECTS) for courses which require 210 CPs (ECTS) from the first degree: Applicants whose Bachelor's degree consists of 180 credit points (ECTS) must acquire another 30 credit points during the first semester of their studies. The specific department decides which examinations and tuition must be completed. Applicants will then be temporarily admitted and enrolled for one term in order to complete the missing 30 credit points. After the end of the first semester, the department will inform the Student Admissions and Registration Office and the Faculty Service Office whether the missing credit points have been acquired and the student may continue his or her studies.
Application process
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The degree course admits students for the winter semester only (semester 2 in the academic year). Application period for the winter semester 2021/22: 1 April-15 May.
Applications for all Master's degree courses are submitted online. The online process is only activated during the application period. It is not possible to apply outside of this time. You can find more information under Applying for a Master's degree course or send an email to master-application(@)haw-hamburg.de
Contact the Student Center
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Applications and admissions:
HAW Master's Degree Course Admissions Office
Stiftstrasse 69, 20099 Hamburg (Berliner Tor Campus)
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-9898
master-application(@)haw-hamburg.de
Office hours:
Drop-in office hours: Monday/Tuesday: 11:00 am–1:00 pm; Thursday: 2:00–5:00 pm
Infothek opening hours: Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm; Friday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Telephone office hours: Moday/Tuesday, 9:00–10:00 am; Thursday: 9:00–11:00 am
Due to the restrictions resulting from the corona pandemic, drop-in office hours are not being offered at the moment. You can reach us by telephone during these times. The Infothek is closed until further notice.
For general queries about degree courses:
Student Counselling Team (Studienberatung)
Stiftstrasse 69, 20099 Hamburg (Berliner Tor Campus)
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-9110
studienberatung(@)haw-hamburg.de
Advice and information by phone: Monday–Tuesday: 10 am–1 pm; Thursday: 1 pm–5 pm
Contact person for applicants with disabilities or chronic health conditions:
Meike Butenob
Alexanderstrasse 1, 20099 Hamburg, room 4.10
Tel. +49.40.428 75-7220
meike.butenob(@)haw-hamburg.de
Current office hours:www.haw-hamburg.de/inklusion
Contact the department
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For questions about degree course content
Prof. Dr. Timon Kampschulte
Ulmenliet 20, Room N 5.06, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-6071 (consulting hours only)
master-res(@)haw-hamburg.de
At a glance
Degree
Faculty / Department
No. of semesters
Applications accepted
Language of instruction
Fees/charges
Full-/part-time
Location
Study organisation
Contact information
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Function | Name | Room | |
Student advisor | Prof. Dr. Timon Kampschulte | N5.06 | timon.kampschulte (@) haw-hamburg.de |
Chair of Examination Board | Prof. Dr. Petra Margaritoff | N5.14 | petra.margaritoff (@) haw-hamburg.de |
Course timetable
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Course timetable for summer semester 2021 update 26 February 21
Important information on access to the lectures at (follow on)
Please note!!! Short-term changes to lecture times can be found on our Infoboard.
Examination schedule
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Online registration via myHAW is required for all exams.
Exam schedule (Updated: 13 January 2021). There are no exams in presence!
Examination Board FAQs
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Module compendium
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Module compendium (as of winter semester 2019)
Course and examination regulations
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Course and examination regulations 6. Juni 2019 (in German only) in myHAW 20192
Expire examination and study regulations
Course and examination regulations26. September 2014 (in German only)
The course-specific examination and study regulations for the master’s degree in Renewable Energy Systems - Environmental and Process Engineering at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences from September 26, 2014 no longer apply at the time specified in paragraph 1. The examination and study regulations continue to apply to all students who started their studies before the 2019/20 winter semester. The examination and study regulations expire at the end of the summer semester 2021. A change from the expiring examination regulations to the new examination regulations is not possible.
Admissions and selection criteria
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Dates and deadlines
Lecture and semester dates
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Winter semester 2020/21: 1 September 2020–28 February 2021
Due to the corona crisis, the lecture periods have been changed.
- Bachelor's students in their second semester and higher / Master's students
Lecture period: 12 October 2020–27 February 2021
First day of lectures: 12 October 2020
Last day of lectures: 28 February 2021
- Bachelor's students in their first semester (15 weeks and three additional weeks of digital courses) and students in the Industrial Engineering course * (Bachelor and Master)
Lecture period: 2 November 2020–27 February 2021
First day of lectures: 2 November 2020
Last day of lectures: 27 February 2021
Christmas holidays (no lectures): 21 December 2020–1 January 2021
Summer semester 2021: 1 March 2021–31 August 2021
Lecture period: 22 March 2021–16 July 2021
First day of lectures: 22 March 2021
Last day of lectures: 16 July 2021
Semester date details for summer semester 2021
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Departments: Bt, Mt, Ut and Vt
Semester period 2021: 1 March 2021–31 August 2021
Lecture period: 22 March 2021–26 June 2021
1st half of the semester (E): 22 March 2021–8 May 2021
2nd half of the semester (Z): 10 May 2021–26 June 2021
Examination period: 28 June 2021–16 July 2021
Department: Öt
Semester period 2021: 1 March 2021–31 August 2021
Lecture period: 22 March 2021 – 2 July 2021
1st half of the semester (E): 22 March 2021–7 May 2021
2nd half of the semester (Z): 10 May 2021–2 July 2021
Examination period: 5 July 2021–16 July 2021
Department: Gw
Semester period 2021: 1 March 2021 - 31 August 2021
Lecture period:
Master HS 22 March 2021 - 2 July 2021
Examination period: 5 July 2021 - 16 July 2021
Variations from the above schedules are listed in the plans of the individual courses. The times from the Department of HWI (see below) apply to teacher training.
Department of HWI
Semester period 2020: 1 April 2021–30 September 2021
Lecture period: 5 April 2021–10 July 2021
Pentecost holidays (no lectures): was cancelled
Course times
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1st quarter: 8:30 am–10:00 am
2nd quarter: 10:15 am–11:45 am
3rd quarter: 12:30 pm–2:00 pm
4th quarter: 2:30 pm–4:00 pm
5th quarter: 4:15 pm–5:45 pm
6th quarter: 6:00 pm–7:30 pm
7th quarter: 7:45 pm–9:15 pm
Re-registration
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To re-register for the new semester, please pay the semester contribution by bank transfer within the re-registration period. Please do not pay before the start of the re-registration period as the final amount will not be determined before this period begins.
Re-registration deadlines
Winter semester: 1 June–15 August
Summer semester: 1 December–15 February
The semester contribution must be in the HAW Hamburg account by the last day of the re-registration period at the latest!
Important: Late re-registration can result in involuntary deregistration from the university. Subsequent re-registration is only possible within the appeals period. Regardless of whether or not deregistration takes place, an additional administrative fee will be charged for late re-registration.
If you are financially unable to pay the semester contribution, you may contact the Students' Union (AStA). In warranted cases it can provide you with a loan.
Bank account information
Recipient: HAW Hamburg
Account number: 106666000
BLZ: 21050000
Bank: HSH Nordbank
IBAN: DE11210500000106666000
BIC: HSHNDEHH
Purpose: for summer semester 2021
Semester code 20211 and your student ID number (please do not leave a space in between!) last name, first name (please leave a space between the student ID number and your name!), e.g.: 202119876543 Mustermann, Karl
As soon as the semester contribution is credited to the HAW Hamburg account you can update your chip card, and with it your semester ticket for the public transport system. To do so, you must insert the chip card in a validation station.
Your future career
Career fields
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What career fields can you work in?
An increasing global demand for energy and the effect of global warming require new concepts for a sustainable energy supply. Renewable energy technologies will play a key role in meeting these challenges. The engineering of and dealing with renewable energy systems have already generated a booming branch and a hundred billion euro market worldwide. As more and more countries are going to enforce the use of renewable energy, there is an increasing demand for experts and engineers worldwide. In Germany there already about 280,000 employees in the renewable energy business, with an annual employment growth rate of 10 per cent.
The new postgraduate degree programme 'Renewable Energy Systems – Environmental and Process Engineering' provides in-depth training for engineers working in industry, planning offices, organisations and research.
The typical scope of work for graduates is:
- Engineering (development, planning, design, execution) of solar thermal systems, photovoltaic systems, biogas, biomass to liquid and wind energy systems as well as downstream systems for energy transformation and distribution
- Research and development of certain components and systems for renewable energy plants
- Engineering of hybrid systems for autonomous energy supply
- Integration of renewable energy systems into utility grids
- Operation and servicing of renewable energy plants
- Assessment and management of renewable energy projects
Student advisor

Department Umwelttechnik
Ulmenliet 20, Room N5.06
21033 Hamburg
T +49 40 428 75-6071
timon.kampschulte@haw-hamburg.de
consultation hours: Due to the Corona virus pandemic there are no face-to-face consultation hours currently. We can agree on a phone or video call on request by e-mail. [last update 04 March 2021]