Energy Systems and Renewable Energies (B. Eng.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ingolstadt Technical University

Program Overview

The Energy Systems and Renewable Energies (B. Eng.) at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt is a hands-on, international program in English that equips you with the skills to tackle the energy revolution—focusing on climate-friendly power generation, smart distribution systems, and efficient storage for a sustainable future. It's perfect for motivated students passionate about energy technology, sustainability, and engineering fundamentals, whether you're from Germany or abroad, and it builds practical know-how plus industry connections for real-world impact.

Curriculum structure
(Semesters 1-2): You'll kick off with a strong foundation in core engineering principles, diving into Thermodynamics 1 to understand energy conversion basics, Electrical Engineering for powering systems, and essential math and physics to set the stage for renewable tech. These semesters emphasize theoretical building blocks with practical labs, helping you grasp how energy flows from source to use while sparking your interest in green innovations.

(Semesters 3-4): Building momentum, you'll explore real-world applications like Solar Energy Technologies—covering photovoltaics, solar heating, and thermal systems—alongside Energy Distribution and CHP Plants for combined heat and power efficiency, and Building Technology and Smart Homes to design energy-smart buildings. Hands-on projects such as Project: Design and Development and Control Engineering let you engineer solutions, blending creativity with technical precision for sustainable infrastructure.

(Semester 5 - Internship): This is your practical plunge—a full Internship [24 ECTS] semester where you apply classroom knowledge in industry settings, supported by a Practical Seminar and modules like Project and Quality Management to sharpen your professional edge. It's designed to give you invaluable on-the-job experience, networking, and insights into energy systems in action.

(Semesters 6-7): Advanced topics ramp up with electives like Smart Grids and Wind Energy, Coupling Sectors, and Energy from Biomass and Biogenic Residues, plus a capstone Bachelor's Thesis and Seminar to showcase your expertise. You'll also tackle Mobility within the Energy System and Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, preparing you to innovate in sector-coupled energy solutions and launch sustainable ventures.

Focus areas: Climate-friendly power generation (solar, wind, biomass), intelligent grids and distribution, energy storage, sector coupling (e.g., electromobility, power-to-heat), and sustainable business practices.

Learning outcomes: Gain broad, practical knowledge in power engineering technologies, design future-oriented energy systems responsibly, collaborate in international teams using English, and build industry contacts for global careers—setting you up for master's studies or immediate roles.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The program follows official Study and Examination Regulations under Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt's General Examination Regulations, ensuring a rigorous, practice-oriented engineering education accredited for EU standards and international recognition.

Reputation (employability rankings): Graduates excel in high-demand fields like sustainable energy generation, plant development/operation, and consulting, with strong practical skills and international experience boosting employability—THI's industry ties deliver direct paths to specialist and managerial roles amid the global energy shift.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the Energy Systems and Renewable Energies (B. Eng.) program at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI), you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, building real-world skills in renewable energy tech through state-of-the-art labs and practical experiments tailored to the field. Our Institute of New Energy Systems (InES) gives you access to cutting-edge facilities, like massive outdoor test surfaces for solar and power plants, plus indoor setups for everything from hydraulics to bioenergy—perfect for turning theory into expertise you'll use in industry right away. Whether you're testing solar collectors, simulating wind turbines, or optimizing biogas plants, these experiences prepare you for high-demand jobs in sustainable energy with practical know-how that employers love.

Here's a closer look at the standout experiential learning opportunities specific to this program:
- Specialized Laboratories: Work in the Laboratory for Renewable Energies / Solar Technology for experiments on solar water heating, collectors, photovoltaic systems, and wind power simulation using WindSim software and the Interactive Lab Assistant multimedia tool for data evaluation.
- Building Energy Tech Lab (G306): Hands-on with heat pump test benches, thermal model buildings, water treatment plants, and hydraulic balancing for heating circuits—key for energy balances in real buildings.
- Bioenergy Technology Lab (G305): Run combustion/pyrolysis test benches and a lab-scale biogas plant to study biomass combustion, biogas production, and process control, including agitator optimization.
- Fluid Mechanics, Environmental & Energy Lab: Test solar thermal collectors on a "sun simulator," heat storage tanks, combined heat/power units with absorption chillers, and simulation PCs running CFD software like STAR-CCM+ and OpenFOAM for flow optimization and wind tunnel measurements.
- InES Research Facilities: Use the 360 m² outdoor test surface for thermal solar, photovoltaics, and power plants, plus 105 m² indoor space for hydraulic storage systems—one of Bavaria's most modern renewable energy measurement centers.
- Applied Research Integration: Join InES projects with industry partners, gaining business contacts and international experience through practical trainings in domestic/industrial energy systems.

This is your chance to apply now and get that edge in a booming field—spots fill fast!

Progression & Future Opportunities

In the Energy Systems and Renewable Energies (B. Eng.) program at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI), you'll dive straight into hands-on learning from day one, building real-world skills in renewable energy tech through state-of-the-art labs tied directly to your coursework. Whether it's testing solar collectors, simulating wind power, or optimizing biogas systems, our Institute of New Energy Systems (InES) gives you access to cutting-edge facilities that mirror industry setups, so you're not just studying theory—you're experimenting with the tools pros use every day.

This practical focus prepares you for high-demand jobs in sustainable energy, with experiments pulled right from the program's curriculum: here's what you'll get involved in:

- Laboratories for Solar Energy Technology: Hands-on experiments with solar water heating, cooling systems, collectors, and photovoltaic setups—plus indoor testing of optical properties and temperature measurements on solar thermal collectors to meet industry standards.
- Outdoor test surface (360 m²): Real-world testing of thermal solar plants, photovoltaics, and power plants, plus 105 m² indoor space for hydraulic construction and storage systems—one of Bavaria's most modern renewable energy measurement centers.
- Wind power simulation: Use the "WindSim" software and servo machine test stand to emulate realistic wind conditions on modern turbines with double-fed asynchronous generators, complete with PC visualization and the "Interactive Lab Assistant" multimedia course for data analysis.
- Laboratory for Bioenergy Technology: Practical work on biomass combustion, pyrolysis test benches, and a lab-scale biogas plant to explore production principles, substrate effects, temperature impacts, and process control simulations.
- Laboratory for Fluid Mechanics, Environmental and Energy: Wind tunnel measurements, solar thermal test benches with sun simulators, heat storage tank testing, combined heat and power units with absorption chillers, and simulation PCs running CFD software like STAR-CCM+ and OpenFOAM.
- Integration with InES research: Collaborate on applied projects in domestic and industrial energy systems, often with industry partners, building your network while gaining international experience through national and global research networks.

Imagine graduating with practical expertise that lands you roles in energy plant development or consulting—our students do, thanks to this setup.