The Aim of the Programme
Energy is - and is sure to remain so over the long term - a pivotal issue in terms of environmental and economic policy. Energy impacts literally every of our everyday life and it is what drives economic development.
Many alternative energy sources for heating and generating have already been identified and are being exploited in both technical and economic terms. Even today it is possible to completely to dispense with heat and electricity generation techniques involving fossil resources (coal, oil, and natural gas). To ensure continued mobility (fuels) and distribution of heat/electricity production, hydrocarbon-based, storable and transportable energy carriers will continue to be indispensable for the next thirty years, despite the fact that battery and hydrogen-driven automobiles will soon be available on a broad scale. As regards road and air freight, there are not real alternatives to fossil fuels at present. It is thus necessary to consider as many sources of hydrocarbons as possible that might prove to be suitable energy carriers; hydrogen is one of these. Energy sources of this kind include biomass and organic waste materials, whose overall energy potential has still not been exploited to the fullest. An analysis of current developments shows that an increasing number of biological and chemical methods are being examined and developed, with a view to effectively transforming biomass and various waste substances into a broad range of energy carriers. Given the great diversity and evolving nature of available raw materials, one of the most important challenges is to identify one enregy carrier that is sustainable in terms of its availability and ability to meet the requirements of the application in question.
Furthermore, producing fuels from biomass and waste also significantly contributes to protecting our climate, because the use (incineration) of energy carriers issuing biomass is, bydefinition, "climate neutral", to the extent that more carbon (mostly as CO2) is released than during photosynthesis of biomass. By making good use of other waste products, we are at the least contributing to environmental and resource protection, since these waste materials can be exploited to the full, meaning that they neither end up in a landfill nor are they simply incinerated. Producing energy carriers from biomass and hydrocarbon-containing waste products of all kinds not only requires advanced technological know-how, but also the ability to assess the related economic and ecological impacts, as well as knowledge in approval management and business management. While the Fuel from Biomass and Waste study programme focuses on a particularly specialised field of technology, the acquired knowledge base and experience is sufficiently broad, giving graduates the opportunity to work in related scientific areas as well. Graduates of this Master Programme have numerous employment opportunities, e.g. in R&D, planning, and in building and operating facilities of this kind. They are also qualified to assume challenging positions with state authorities, in administration, and consulting firms dealing with alternative energies and energy economics, in addition to interntional and policy-making jobs.
Master degree holders also qualify for PhD studies in a doctoral programme at the BTU or other German or international university.
Study and Examination Regulations for the Fuel from Biomass and Waste Programme
Degree Programme Structure
The degree programme comprises both compulsory and elective modules. Compulsory modules include:
- Treatment technology
- Biological methods of biomass and waste treatment
- Biological reaction engineering
- Process reliability and plant safety
- Study project "Alternative energy carriers"
- Master's Thesis.
Students must choose a sufficient number of elective modules, in order to satisfy the overall credit point requirement for the specific degree. The courses that make up the elective module can change as a function of advancements in technology and knowledge, or as a function of BTU' academic programmes. The following topical complexes should be thus considered non-specific:
- Resource Management
- Biotechnology/Bio-Engineering
- Process Technology
- Producing Alternative Energy Carriers
- Planning, Cost-Effectiveness and Operation of Installations
- Other Energy Resources
- Integrative Subject/Transdisciplinarity.
By closely linking research and teaching, the current focus of the programme is on recovering biogas from waste products, i.e. recovery of biogas of the type that is not in competition with food and animal feed production. The BTU's research efforts are conducted in cooperation with several companies, which have actually implemented a biogas process that was developed at the BTU. Students have access not only to the BTU's own technical facilities and equipment, as well as to those of the Technical College (Großtechnicum) of GICON GmbH (
http://www.gicon.de/) located on the premises of Wasser LWG GmbH & Co. KG in Cottbus ( http://www.lwg´net.de/oeffent_presse.html). Both the above companies are providing direct support for this academic programme. CEBra GmbH (http://www.tu-cottbus.de/einrichtungen/de/cebra/) and the Fördergesellschaft Erneuerbare Energien (Renewable Energy Development Agency, FEE e.V., http://www.fee-ev.de/) have access to an extensive network and provide support for the programme by supplying lectures and contacts to industry and scientific facilities. In this way, beginning in the first semester we ensure a good balance of university knowledge and the practical needs of industry.
Applicants to this non-consecutive Master Programme should be in possession of a primary professionally qualifying degreee (minimum requirement: Bachelor) in a programm related to environmental or process technology (minimum requirements: good knowledge of basic mathematical-scientific principles, heat, momentum, and materials transfer, engineering and plant manufacturing, economics, law and social science) and need to pass an examination to determine their suitability. The Examinations Board may waive the suitability examination requirement for applicants who can demonstrate above average academic performance (grade point average better than 2.3). While preparatory internship or other prerequisites do not apply - students are expected to show interest, enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity, the urge to learn and take pleasure in studying and student life!
For this programme, 120 credit points must be earned in order to obtain a degree. The programme is to be completed in four semesters. Given the programme's modular structure, students cann start the course in either the winter or summer semester.
For details on applying see http://www.tu-cottbus.de/btu/de/studium/studienbewerber/studienbewerbung/.
