Bachelor's Degree in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Autonomous University of Barcelona

Program Overview

The Bachelor's Degree in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency Engineering at the Autonomous University of Barcelona equips you with cutting-edge knowledge in natural sciences, technology, and social sciences focused on sustainable energy solutions, perfectly suiting students passionate about tackling global energy challenges through innovation and efficiency. You'll gain hands-on skills in renewable technologies, energy management, and environmental impact reduction, blending classroom learning with fieldwork, labs, and real-world projects to prepare you for a dynamic career in the green energy sector.

Curriculum Structure
First Year
In your first year, you'll build a strong foundation in core sciences like physics, chemistry, and mathematics, essential for understanding energy systems, alongside introductory modules on Environmental Technology and basic data management tools. This sets the stage with practical lab work and team projects, helping you grasp how natural resources tie into energy production. You'll also explore Natural, Energy and Water Resources, learning the basics of renewable sources and efficiency principles right from the start.

Second Year
The second year dives deeper into energy dynamics with courses like The Global Energy Problem: The Scientific Basis of Energy Management, where you'll analyze worldwide energy resources, consumption patterns, and the pros and cons of renewables versus traditional sources through campus visits to solar cells and biomass systems. Hands-on experiments and interactive sessions build your ability to evaluate energy production limitations, complemented by modules on contamination prevention and waste management from Environmental Technology.

Third Year
By third year, you'll tackle advanced topics in energy efficiency and renewable energies within Natural, Energy and Water Resources, focusing on resource analysis, water cycle management, and eco-innovative product design. Studies in environmental audits and industrial safety sharpen your technical skills, while projects on climate change and biodiversity prepare you for real-world applications like green economy policies.

Fourth Year
Your final year emphasizes integration through optional subjects (48 credits available) in areas like environmental research on global change, energy management, and life cycle analysis, allowing specialization in renewables or policy. Culminating in team projects, mobility programs like Erasmus+, and capstone work on energy markets via role-playing simulations, you'll emerge ready to innovate in sustainable energy.

Focus Areas
Key focus areas include environmental technology (contamination control, waste management, eco-efficient products), natural, energy and water resources (renewable energies, efficiency, water management), environmental communication, and research in climate change, biodiversity, and green economy.

Learning Outcomes
Graduates master scientific energy management at global and local scales, proficient in data tools, mapping, audits, and renewable tech design; they excel in fieldwork, projects, and communication for roles in sustainability and policy.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The program aligns with UAB's pioneering environmental education, accredited under EHEA standards, with integration into sustainability plans like ICTA-UAB's María de Maeztu excellence funding for transdisciplinary training in energy and environment.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)
UAB leads in sustainability, reducing GHG emissions by 55% and pioneering Spain's Environmental Science degree since 1992, now expanding to all bachelor's with ecosocial crisis training by 2025/26; ICTA-UAB hosts 200 top researchers in energy efficiency and renewables, boosting employability through practical prep and global exchanges.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), our Bachelor's Degree in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency Engineering puts practical, hands-on learning front and center, so you're not just studying theory—you're building real-world skills right from the start. You'll dive into fieldwork, lab experiments, and team projects that mirror industry challenges, using campus facilities like solar cells, biomass boilers, and energy efficiency systems to explore renewable energy solutions. Tied to renowned research hubs like the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), the program equips you with essential tools for energy management, waste handling, and eco-innovation, all while preparing you for careers in energy efficiency and renewables.

Here are some standout ways you'll gain experiential learning through program-specific facilities, projects, and opportunities:
- Campus energy facilities: Hands-on visits to solar cells, biomass boilers, refrigeration systems, and other efficiency setups on the Bellaterra Campus, introducing key topics in energy management.
- Lab training and experiments: Practical sessions in environmental and energy labs, including work on anaerobic digesters for biogas production from organic waste—part of pilot projects like the micro-anaerobic digester with the Waste Agency of Catalonia.
- Group and role-playing projects: Team-based simulations, such as acting as an energy manager in a role-playing activity to model global energy markets and tackle real dynamics.
- Fieldwork and resource management: On-site analysis of natural resources, renewable energies, water cycles, and waste by-products, with training in data management, mapping, and communication tools.
- Professional internships: Compulsory work placements with companies focused on energy efficiency, renewables, and environmental tech.
- Research-linked labs and institutes: Access to ICTA and groups like the Compost Research Group (GICOM) for projects on eco-efficient products, renewable energy pilots (e.g., soil microbial fuel cells and solar-powered systems), and carbon-neutral innovations.

This is your chance to turn passion into expertise at a top-ranked program—apply now and step into a future powering sustainable energy!

Progression & Future Opportunities

At the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), students in programs like the Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science—which offers a strong focus on renewable energies and energy efficiency through dedicated modules—dive right into hands-on learning from day one. You'll build practical skills through fieldwork, lab sessions, team projects, and real-world tools like data management, map creation, and environmental communication, all while exploring energy efficiency, renewable energies, and resource management. The campus itself is a living lab, with energy-efficient buildings, solar cells, biomass boilers, and refrigeration systems you can visit and experiment with directly.

This practical edge comes alive through specifics like these:
- Campus facilities for energy tech: Hands-on visits to UAB's solar cells, biomass boilers, and efficiency systems, plus experimental activities on refrigeration and other sustainable setups.
- Lab training and research institutes: Access to the renowned Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB), one of Spain's top centers for environmental research, including energy efficiency and renewables.
- Group projects and role-playing: Team-based simulations like acting as an energy manager in a mock global energy market, tackling real challenges in energy dynamics.
- Professional internships: Compulsory work placements with companies in environmental tech, plus exchanges via Erasmus+, SICUE, and global UAB programs.
- Fieldwork and sustainability tools: Practical training in energy audits, waste management, water cycles, and eco-innovative designs, supported by the campus's carbon-neutral push and 60% renewable electricity use.

Imagine applying these skills on a highly energy-efficient campus that's setting the standard for sustainability—it's the perfect launchpad for your career in renewable energies.