You can find course descriptions in Sisu. In your study plan, choose the course and click the course code or search courses by code or name. Learning environments are found in MyCourses through search or after registration in "My own courses".
Master's Programme in Advanced Energy Solutions
Loading table of contents
Curriculum 2024–2026
About the programme
The Master's Programme in Advanced Energy Solutions provides the education needed by engineers to create the sustainable energy system of tomorrow. The Programme has four majors, each focussing on a different segment of the energy system. These majors support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN for creating a more sustainable future. In each of the majors, the students are provided with a solid theoretical background, complimented with multidisciplinary studies which broaden and deepen the students understanding of society’s energy challenges. All majors focus on industry relevance and provide opportunities to work with companies and other stakeholders in the energy sector. The programme gives students excellent prospects for employment in energy companies, manufacturing industries and consulting companies. The four majors are:
- Industrial Energy Processes (CHEM)
- Energy in Buildings and Built Environment (ENG)
- Energy Conversion Processes (ENG)
- Energy Systems and Markets (ELEC)
- Students should be able to understand and apply energy engineering skills, and mathematically reason new information for research and technical purposes.
- Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams, communicate research and technical information effectively.
- Ability to design a system, components, or processes which take into consideration realistic constraints and future challenges such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability.
- Ability to design complex projects and experiments, analyse and interpret data results.
Industrial Energy Processes
Industrial processes generate approximately 20 % of all greenhouse gas emissions globally. Decarbonization of industrial processes plays therefore a key role to reach carbon neutrality by 2050-2060. To achieve this ambitious goal plenty of new experts with sufficient theoretical and practical skills are needed in the field.
The Industrial Energy Process major provides a great overview of energy intensive process industry as well as energy conversion processes related to industrial energy engineering. The major addresses fundamental theoretical skills in energy technology, such as thermodynamics, mass and energy balances on reacting systems, chemical equilibria, chemical kinetics, catalysis, role of interphase and interphase heat and mass transfer, as well as practical engineering knowledge related to industrial unit processes, energy efficiency, energy conversion as well as utilization of biomass.
The major is designed to be flexible in its study path options and course catalogue in order to prepare students for complex and multidisciplinary industrial challenges such as improvement of energy efficiency and decarbonization of industrial processes. Students who graduate from this major typically work in energy intensive industry, consulting companies, energy companies, and society. Students also become well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.
Energy in Buildings and Built Environment
Developing energy efficient buildings and cities is a challenge as buildings are responsible for 40% of final energy consumption and about 50% of electricity consumption. At the same time, all solutions should also achieve healthy, comfortable and productive indoor environments. The EU stipulated that all new buildings should be nearly zero energy buildings in 2020. In this next phase, the EU roadmap defines that by 2050, the equivalent CO2 emissions from the building sector should be reduced by around 90% compared to the 1990 level.
The candidates in this major will gain specific knowledge in sustainable energy technologies. The major offers the theoretical basis and practical skills that are required in designing projects and the development of novel technologies and services for energy efficient buildings and communities. The major will offer advanced courses on efficient use of energy in the fields of building technology and services, and design of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The specialization of the major includes specification of performance of building HVAC systems and indoor environmental quality. The major prepares students for current and future challenges in construction and building service industries.
Energy Conversion Processes
The EU is committed to a carbon neutral Europe by 2050, while Finland’s respective target is already in 2035. To reach this goal, energy conversion processes need to be designed, re-designed or improved and understood based on natural sciences and interaction between different disciplines. Contemporary topics, such as carbon neutral energy, thermal energy systems, and computational energy technology will be covered in the major. Focal aspects include efficient energy system design while minimizing the environmental impact. The major covers the fields of 1) different conventional and renewable energy conversion technologies, 2) simulation approaches, and 3) energy storage systems.
The major offers a firm theoretical base as well as practical tools and skills needed by engineers working in the field of energy. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems in the field, the major is designed to be flexible in terms of courses. Courses include theory, simulations and experiments, industrial applications, and problem-based projects. The graduates are prepared to tackle present and future challenges faced by companies, industrial R&D tasks or continue with doctoral studies.
Energy Systems and Markets
A reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system is the basic requirement of a modern society. Today, energy systems face challenges with the flexible integration of different energy forms (power, heat, fuels) with the increasing complexity of the systems. Complexity arises due to distributed power generation and emergence of active producer-customers, i.e. prosumers. Integrating intermittent renewable sources, like solar, wind and wave energy, into the energy system is one of the main challenges necessary for a sustainable future. This major offers a basic understanding of energy systems, the main challenges faced by our energy solutions today and possible ways towards a sustainable future.
The major offers practical tools and skills needed by engineers working in the field of energy systems. In order to prepare students for understanding complex and multidisciplinary problems in the field, the major is designed to be flexible. Courses include theoretical considerations, experimental work and industrial applications. The major prepares students for current and future challenges faced by energy companies, manufacturing industry, consulting companies and society. Students are well-prepared to pursue doctoral studies.
Total
120
ECTS
Major studies
60
ECTS
Master's thesis
30
ECTS
Elective studies *
30
ECTS
* may contain an elective minor 20-25 ECTS
The major studies comprise 60 credits and are divided into programme common courses (15 ECTS), major compulsory courses (15–25 cr) and advanced studies (20–30 cr). The exact amount of required compulsory courses and optional studies is defined separately for each major in the sections below.
Sisu-instructions 2024-2026
Industrial Energy Processes
Code: CHEM3044
Teacher in charge: Francesco Corona
Upon completion of the major, the student will be able to:
- Understand existing and emerging biomass sources for sustainable industrial use
- Understand the theory, design and operation of energy related industrial systems
- Understand fundamentals of bio-based thermochemical processes
- Apply proper tools and software to simulate and design energy-related processes
- Analyze systems using the principles of thermodynamics, energy balances, and heat and mass transfer
- Analyze energy efficiency of industrial processes and systems
- Create solutions for energy intensive industry
The programme compulsory courses are compulsory for all the students in the Advanced Energy Solutions Master’s programme. It is highly recommended to complete all the programme compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the compulsory studies courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E1000 | Introduction to Advanced Energy Solutions | 5 | I-II |
| AAE-E3090 | Renewable Energy Engineering | 5 | III-V |
| AAE-E3006 | Energy Markets | 5 | I |
Major Compulsory Courses (select 20-25 cr)
The major compulsory courses are for all the students taking the Industrial Energy Processes major with a limited range of courses options. It is highly recommended to complete all the major compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the major compulsory courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM-E7121* | Separation Processes 1 D | 5 | I | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7160 | Fluid Flow in Process Units | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| AAE-E3007 | Process Integration and Energy Optimisation D | 5 | II | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7190 | Process Dynamics and Control D | 5 | II | 1. year |
| AAE-E3001 | Fundamentals of Industrial Energy Engineering | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
*If the student has not previously studied thermodynamics to the extent as presented in CHEM-E7121, this course shall be selected.
Optional studies (select 20-25 ECTS)
Select 20-25 credits from the courses below. Please note the course specific pre-requisites. Courses listed in compulsory studies of other AAE majors for the 24-26 curriculum can also be included under optional studies. Please see the Study Paths under the Recommended timetable-section for suggestions.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E3000 | Advanced energy project D | 10 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology V D | 5 | I-V | 2. year |
| CHEM-E1130 | Catalysis | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CHEM-E1115 | Biomass Fractionation I D | 5 | III | 1. or 2. year |
| AAE-E3120 | Circular Economy for Energy Storage D | 5 | II | 2. year |
| CHEM-E7126 | Separation Processes 2 D | 5 | III | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7125 | Special Course in Process Systems Engineering D | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| CHEM-E7220 | Process Safety and Risk Management D | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| AAE-E1040 | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems D | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E2005 | Thermochemical Energy Conversion D | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| AAE-E3002 | Power Process Simulation D | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| AAE-E3004 | District Heating and Cooling D | 5 | III | 1. or 2. year |
The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme. The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University.
The master's thesis includes a presentation and maturity test. Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process from Completing master's
thesis.
| Course name | ECTS credits | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|
| Master´s thesis | 30 | 2. year |
| Maturity test | 0 | 2. year |
For your free elective studies module, you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites.
The structure of your Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e.
common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and
Master’s thesis.
Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective studies or
broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities.
The choice for elective studies is yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.
Please note that the total number of credits for a master's degree (major studies, elective studies and master's thesis) may not exceed 125 ECTS.
You can complete a minor subject and include it in elective studies. Please note that if you want to have a minor it needs to be master advanced level minor. Please see the list of all minors offered by Aalto University under Minors.
You can also include max 5 ECTS of practical training (ENG-E1010 Practical training) in your elective studies. You can find information on practical training on this page (MyCourses).
Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the degree that the courses are planned to be included in.
For recommended elective courses for the different majors in Advanced Energy Solutions, please see the study paths under Recommended timetable.
Language requirements
Language requirements According to Government Degree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall
demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) and hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enables students to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.
Student's bachelor's degree completed in Finland
Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree.
Student's bachelor's degree not completed in Finland
Students are required to complete 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.
Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center.
Students who already have excellent command of English (for example, English as their first language) may
choose 3 ECTS of Finnish or Swedish (basic level) courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of
oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree.
In cases where student have received their pre-university education in Finland in a language of Finnish or
Swedish, the language requirements are following: the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. In these cases contact Learning Services.
Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan.
Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the
Language Centre of Aalto University.
Energy in Buildings and Built Environment
Code: ENG3068
Teacher in charge: Risto Kosonen
Upon completion of the Major, the student will:
- Have an understanding of multidisciplinary aspects of energy efficiency
- Have an understanding of the methods to improve energy efficiency
- Will be aware of how to utilize renewable energy sources in buildings
- Will be able to optimize building systems and develop services to improve energy efficiency
- Have an understanding of how the entity of building design and HVAC system influences upon the indoor environment
- Have an understanding of design methods and appropriate simulation and optimization tools
The Advanced HVAC course package (45 cr) provides the prerequisite courses needed for the qualification to become a responsible designer of exceptionally demanding HVAC- projects in Finland, after further conditions are met.
The programme compulsory courses are compulsory for all the students in the Advanced Energy Solutions Master’s programme. It is highly recommended to complete all the programme compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the compulsory studies courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E1000 | Introduction to Advanced Energy Solutions | 5 | I-II |
| AAE-E3090 | Renewable Energy Engineering | 5 | III-V |
| AAE-E3006 | Energy Markets | 5 | I |
Major Compulsory Courses (15 cr)
The major compulsory courses are compulsory for all students taking the Energy in Buildings and Built Environment major. It is highly recommended to complete all the compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the major compulsory courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEC-E1020 | Fluid dynamics | 5 | II | 1. year |
| AAE-E4001 | Comfortable and Healthy Indoor Environments | 5 | III | 1. year |
| AAE-E4002 | Heating and Cooling Systems | 5 | III | 1. year |
Optional studies (Select 30 ECTS)
Select 30 credits from the courses below. Please note the course specific pre-requisites. The student is free to select courses for the Advanced studies in any combination as long as the degree requirements are met. Recommended study paths with qualifications mentioned under each path can be found under Recommended timetable section.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E1040 | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E4003 | Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| AAE-E4004 | Fundamentals of HVAC design | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| AAE-E4005 | Sustainable Building Energy Systems | 5 | V | 1. year |
| AAE-E4006 | Advanced HVAC Design | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E4007 | Building Energy Optimization | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E3000 | Advanced Energy Project D | 10 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E3004 | District Heating and Cooling D | 5 | III | 1. or 2. year |
| ELEC-E8124 | Intelligent buildings | 5 | II | 1. or 2. year |
| ELEC-E8701 | Lighting technology and applications | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8700 | Principles and fundamentals of lighting | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
| CIV-E3010 | Applied building physics and design D | 5 | V | 1. year |
| CIV-E3030 | Indoor air quality D | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| CIV-E3040 | Indoor environment technology D | 5 | I | 1. or 2. year |
| CIV-E3020 | Design of energy efficient buildings D | 5 | II | 1. or 2. year |
| CIV-E2080 | Design Process Management D | 5 | II | 1. or 2. year |
| AAE-E3070 | Electrical Energy Storage Systems D | 5 | III | 1. year |
| AAE-E3080 | Thermal Energy Storage Systems D | 5 | V | 1. year |
The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme. The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University.
The master's thesis includes a presentation and maturity test. Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process from Completing master's
thesis.
| Course name | ECTS credits | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|
| Master´s thesis | 30 | 2. year |
| Maturity test | 0 | 2. year |
For your free elective studies module, you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites.
The structure of your Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e.
common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and
Master’s thesis.
Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective studies or
broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities.
The choice for elective studies is yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.
Please note that the total number of credits for a master's degree (major studies, elective studies and master's thesis) may not exceed 125 ECTS.
You can complete a minor subject and include it in elective studies. Please note that if you want to have a minor it needs to be master advanced level minor. Please see the list of all minors offered by Aalto University under Minors.
You can also include max 5 ECTS of practical training (ENG-E1010 Practical training) in your elective studies. You can find information on practical training on this page (MyCourses).
Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the degree that the courses are planned to be included in.
As stated under Advanced studies, students are recommended to choose study paths conferring to qualifications, each of these study paths also has a list of recommended electives. See the study paths under Recommended timetable. In addition to the previous, you can find additionally recommended elective courses under Planning your studies.
Otherwise, the usual rules for electives apply, for which students can choose courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities, in accordance with Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites.
Language requirements
Language requirements According to Government Degree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall
demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) and hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enables students to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.
Student's bachelor's degree completed in Finland
Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree.
Student's bachelor's degree not completed in Finland
Students are required to complete 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.
Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center.
Students who already have excellent command of English (for example, English as their first language) may
choose 3 ECTS of Finnish or Swedish (basic level) courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of
oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree.
In cases where student have received their pre-university education in Finland in a language of Finnish or
Swedish, the language requirements are following: the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. In these cases contact Learning Services.
Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan.
Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the
Language Centre of Aalto University.
Energy Conversion Processes
Code: ENG3069
Teacher in charge: Ville Vuorinen
- Identify the fundamental natural phenomena of modern energy conversion technologies and apply different methods to design and develop them
- Be able to take a holistic view to understand dependencies across large energy systems
- Analyze and evaluate existing and future challenges in the field of energy, and the role of energytechnologies and processes in addressing these challenges
- Design sustainable energy conversion and storage solutions based on a scientific approach
The programme compulsory courses are compulsory for all the students in the Advanced Energy Solutions Master’s programme. It is highly recommended to complete all the programme compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the compulsory studies courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E1000 | Introduction to Advanced Energy Solutions | 5 | I-II |
| AAE-E3090 | Renewable Energy Engineering | 5 | III-V |
| AAE-E3006 | Energy Markets | 5 | I |
Major Compulsory Courses (20 cr)
The major compulsory courses are for all the students taking the Energy Conversion Processes major. It is highly recommended to complete all the major compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the major compulsory courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEC-E1020 | Fluid Dynamics | 5 | II | 1. year |
| AAE-E2005 | Thermochemical Energy Conversion D | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| AAE-E1040 | Measurement and Control of Energy Systems D | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| AAE-E3110 | Hydrogen technology D | 5 | V | 1. year |
Optional studies (Select 25 ECTS)
Select 25 credits from the courses below. Please note the course specific pre-requisites. The following list is divided by thematic topic: conversion and storage, methods, and systems and technologies. Please see the study paths under Recommended timetable section for suggestions.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM-E4255 | Electrochemical Energy Conversion D | 5 | II | 1. or 2. year |
| AAE-E3100 | Energy Carriers D | 5 | I | 2. year |
| AAE-E3070 | Electrical Energy Storage Systems D | 5 | III | 1. year |
| AAE-E3080 | Thermal Energy Storage Systems D | 5 | IV-V | 1. or 2. year |
| AAE-E3120 | Circular Economy for Energy Storage D | 5 | II | 2. year |
| AAE-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology V D | 5 | I-V | 1. or 2. year |
| AAE-E3002 | Power Process Simulation D | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| AAE-E2001 | Computational Fluid Dynamics D | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| AAE-E3030 | Numerical Modelling of Multiphase Flows D | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| MEC-E2010 | Computational Fluid Modelling D | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E2004 | Mass Transfer D | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| PHYS-E6570 | Solar Energy Engineering D | 5 | III-IV* | 1. or 2. year (organizes every other year)* |
| AAE-E3095 | Wind Power Engineering and Development | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
| PHYS-E0460 | Introduction to Reactor Physics | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
| AAE-E3004 | District heating and cooling | 5 | III | 1. or 2. year |
| CS-C3240 | Machine learning D | 5 | I | 1. or 2. year |
| MS-E1651 | Numerical matrix computations D | 5 | I | 2. year |
* Lectured every other year:
PHYS-E6570 lectured in the spring 2026
The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme. The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University.
The master's thesis includes a presentation and maturity test. Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process from Completing master's
thesis.
| Course name | ECTS credits | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|
| Master´s thesis | 30 | 2. year |
| Maturity test | 0 | 2. year |
For your free elective studies module, you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites.
The structure of your Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e.
common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and
Master’s thesis.
Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective studies or
broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities.
The choice for elective studies is yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.
Please note that the total number of credits for a master's degree (major studies, elective studies and master's thesis) may not exceed 125 ECTS.
You can complete a minor subject and include it in elective studies. Please note that if you want to have a minor it needs to be master advanced level minor. Please see the list of all minors offered by Aalto University under Minors.
You can also include max 5 ECTS of practical training (ENG-E1010 Practical training) in your elective studies. You can find information on practical training on this page (MyCourses).
Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the degree that the courses are planned to be included in.
For recommended elective courses for the different majors in Advanced Energy Solutions, please see the study paths under Recommended timetable. In addition to this, you can find additionally recommended elective courses under Planning your studies.
Language requirements
Language requirements According to Government Degree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall
demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) and hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enables students to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.
Student's bachelor's degree completed in Finland
Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree.
Student's bachelor's degree not completed in Finland
Students are required to complete 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.
Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center.
Students who already have excellent command of English (for example, English as their first language) may
choose 3 ECTS of Finnish or Swedish (basic level) courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of
oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree.
In cases where student have received their pre-university education in Finland in a language of Finnish or
Swedish, the language requirements are following: the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. In these cases contact Learning Services.
Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan.
Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the
Language Centre of Aalto University.
Energy Systems and Markets
Code: ELEC3048
Teacher in charge: Matti Lehtonen
Upon completion of the Major, the student will attain the following learning outcomes:
- Have a holistic view which enables analyzing complex dependencies in vast energy systems
- Optimize and develop energy systems, taking into account different energy forms
- Understand the role of various parties in energy markets
- Develop applications for energy efficiency and sustainability
- Gain the ability to analyze and evaluate existing and future challenges in the field of energy systems
The programme compulsory courses are compulsory for all the students in the Advanced Energy Solutions Master’s programme. It is highly recommended to complete all the programme compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the compulsory studies courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E1000 | Introduction to Advanced Energy Solutions | 5 | I-II |
| AAE-E3090 | Renewable Energy Engineering | 5 | III-V |
| AAE-E3006 | Energy Markets | 5 | I |
Major compulsory courses (20 cr)
The major compulsory courses are compulsory for all the students taking the Energy Systems and Markets major. It is highly recommended to complete all the major compulsory courses during the first year of studies. Please note that the major compulsory courses are often prerequisites for the advanced studies courses.
| Code | Couse name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELEC-E8413 | Power Systems | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year* |
| ELEC-E8406 | Electricity Distribution and Markets | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| AAE-E3004 | District Heating and Cooling D | 5 | III | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8423 | Smart Grid D | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
* If you have studied the basics of electrical engineering (ELEC-E8422 An Introduction to Electric Energy, ELEC-C8001 Electrical Energy Technology or equivalent) in your BSc degree, you can take this course during the 1. year.
Optional studies (Select 25 ECTS)
Select 25 credits from the courses below. Please note the course specific pre-requisites.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Period | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAE-E3070 | Electrical Energy Storage Systems D | 5 | III | 1. year |
| AAE-E3080 | Thermal Energy Storage Systems D | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8701 | Lighting technologies and applications | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8425 | Energy Systems Modelling and Optimization D | 5 | IV-V | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8700 | Principles and fundamentals of lighting | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E3007 | Process Integration and Energy Optimization D | 5 | II | 2. year |
| PHYS-E6570 | Solar Energy Engineering D | 5 | III-IV | 1. or 2. year (organized every other year)* |
| CHEM-E7215 | Special Course in Process Systems Engineering D | 5 | IV | 1. year |
| MS-E2117 | Risk Analysis D | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| MS-E2135 | Decision Analysis D | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| MS-E2121 | Linear Optimization D | 5 | III-IV | 1. year |
| MS-E2177 | Seminar on Case Studies in Operation Research V D | 5-7 | III-V | 1. year |
| AAE-E3005 | Exercises in Energy Technology V D | 5 | I-V | 1. or 2. year |
| ELEC-E8102 | Distributed and Intelligent Automation Systems D | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8113 | Information Systems in Industry | 5 | I-II | 1. year |
| ELEC-E8424 | Distributed Generation Technologies | 5 | I-II | 2. year |
| AAE-E3000 | Advanced Energy Project D | 10 | I-II | 2. year |
| ELEC-E8427 | Power Transmission Systems | 5 | III-IV | 2. year |
| AAE-E3095 | Wind Power Engineering and Development | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
| ELEC-E8433 | Elements of Hydrogen Systems and Storages | 5 | I-II | 1. or 2. year |
* Lectured every other year:
PHYS-E6570 lectured in the spring 2026
The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme. The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University.
The master's thesis includes a presentation and maturity test. Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process from Completing master's
thesis.
| Course name | ECTS credits | Recommended study year |
|---|---|---|
| Master´s thesis | 30 | 2. year |
| Maturity test | 0 | 2. year |
For your free elective studies module, you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites.
The structure of your Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e.
common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and
Master’s thesis.
Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective studies or
broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities.
The choice for elective studies is yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.
Please note that the total number of credits for a master's degree (major studies, elective studies and master's thesis) may not exceed 125 ECTS.
You can complete a minor subject and include it in elective studies. Please note that if you want to have a minor it needs to be master advanced level minor. Please see the list of all minors offered by Aalto University under Minors.
You can also include max 5 ECTS of practical training (ENG-E1010 Practical training) in your elective studies. You can find information on practical training on this page (MyCourses).
Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the degree that the courses are planned to be included in.
For recommended elective courses for the different majors in Advanced Energy Solutions, please see the study paths under Recommended timetable.
Language requirements
Language requirements According to Government Degree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall
demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) and hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enables students to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.
Student's bachelor's degree completed in Finland
Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree.
Student's bachelor's degree not completed in Finland
Students are required to complete 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.
Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center.
Students who already have excellent command of English (for example, English as their first language) may
choose 3 ECTS of Finnish or Swedish (basic level) courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of
oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree.
In cases where student have received their pre-university education in Finland in a language of Finnish or
Swedish, the language requirements are following: the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. In these cases contact Learning Services.
Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan.
Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the
Language Centre of Aalto University.
- Published:
- Updated: