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Master’s in Islands and Isolated Systems

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in islands and isolated power systems, 12 modules covering conventional island generation, renewable integration, low-inertia stability, storage, microgrids, island energy planning, operation, demand management, regulation and economics, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1,900 hours · 12–14 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the characteristics of isolated power systems.

02

Integrate renewables into island systems.

03

Assess the stability of low-inertia systems.

04

Size storage for isolated systems.

05

Design microgrids for remote areas.

06

Plan the island energy transition.

07

Evaluate the regulation and economics of isolated systems.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Isolated systems engineers.
  • Island energy planners.
  • Microgrid engineers.
  • Island system operators.
  • Energy transition consultants.
  • Rural electrification engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to work for island system operators.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Royal Decree 738/2015 (Spanish non-mainland electricity systems)
  • Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG) (grid connection requirements for generators)
  • IEEE 2030.7 (microgrid controller specification)
  • IEEE 2030.8 (microgrid controller testing)
  • IEC TS 62898-1 (microgrid planning and specification)
  • Law 24/2013 (Spanish Electricity Sector Act)
  • IEC 62257 (renewable and hybrid systems for rural electrification)
  • HOMER Pro
  • DIgSILENT PowerFactory
  • PLEXOS
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • PyPSA
Syllabus

12 modules

  1. 1.1Characteristics of island systems
  2. 1.2Non-mainland systems in Spain
  3. 1.3Microgrids in remote areas
  4. 1.4Dependence on fossil fuels
  5. 1.5Island generation costs
  6. 1.6Stability challenges
  7. 1.7Regulation of isolated systems
  8. 1.8Interconnections between islands
  9. 1.9Leading international experiences
  10. 1.10Case study: power system of a Canary island
  1. 2.1Diesel generator sets and engines
  2. 2.2Gas turbines
  3. 2.3Island combined cycles
  4. 2.4Economic dispatch of units
  5. 2.5Sizing operating reserves
  6. 2.6Start-ups and shutdowns
  7. 2.7Alternative fuels for engines
  8. 2.8Emissions and regulations
  9. 2.9Fuel management
  10. 2.10Lab: economic dispatch of an island system
  1. 3.1Island renewable resources
  2. 3.2Distributed rooftop PV
  3. 3.3Wind power on islands
  4. 3.4Hydropower and pumped storage
  5. 3.5Island geothermal resources
  6. 3.6Wave and tidal current energy
  7. 3.7Penetration limits
  8. 3.8Curtailment and constraints
  9. 3.9Renewable planning
  10. 3.10Practical: renewable penetration scenario
  1. 4.1Low system inertia
  2. 4.2Frequency stability
  3. 4.3Voltage stability
  4. 4.4Load shedding
  5. 4.5Fast frequency response
  6. 4.6Synchronous condensers for inertia
  7. 4.7Storage for stability
  8. 4.8Grid-forming on islands
  9. 4.9System dynamic studies
  10. 4.10Lab: frequency response to loss of a unit
  1. 5.1Large-scale batteries
  2. 5.2Pumped storage plants
  3. 5.3Flywheels
  4. 5.4Hydrogen for storage
  5. 5.5Molten salt thermal storage
  6. 5.6Storage sizing
  7. 5.7Storage services
  8. 5.8The El Hierro and Gorona del Viento cases
  9. 5.9Storage economics
  10. 5.10Practical: battery sizing for an island
  1. 6.1Microgrid architectures
  2. 6.2Hybrid diesel-renewable microgrids
  3. 6.3Hierarchical microgrid control
  4. 6.4Primary and secondary control
  5. 6.5Microgrid energy management
  6. 6.6Rural electrification with renewables
  7. 6.7Solar home systems
  8. 6.8Isolated community mini-grids
  9. 6.9Maintenance in remote areas
  10. 6.10Lab: droop control of a microgrid
  1. 7.1Demand forecasting
  2. 7.2Decarbonisation scenarios
  3. 7.3Expansion optimisation
  4. 7.4Planning models
  5. 7.5Subsea interconnections between islands
  6. 7.6Transport electrification
  7. 7.7Desalination and energy
  8. 7.8Tourism and demand
  9. 7.9Island transition plans
  10. 7.10Practical: planning with HOMER Pro
  1. 8.1Island control centre
  2. 8.2Renewable forecasting
  3. 8.3Unit commitment
  4. 8.4Reserve management
  5. 8.5Curtailment management
  6. 8.6Operation with high penetration
  7. 8.7Emergency procedures
  8. 8.8Service restoration
  9. 8.9Operating indicators
  10. 8.10Case study: operation with 80% renewables
  1. 9.1Demand flexibility
  2. 9.2Desalination as a flexible load
  3. 9.3Electric vehicle charging
  4. 9.4Heat pumps
  5. 9.5Load aggregation
  6. 9.6Dynamic tariffs for consumers
  7. 9.7Demand response
  8. 9.8Consumer programmes
  9. 9.9Flexibility assessment
  10. 9.10Workshop: flexibility of a desalination plant
  1. 10.1Remuneration regime for isolated systems
  2. 10.2Compensation of non-mainland costs
  3. 10.3Generation costs
  4. 10.4Island renewable auctions
  5. 10.5Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative
  6. 10.6Project financing
  7. 10.7Ownership models
  8. 10.8Cost-benefit analysis of investments
  9. 10.9Consumer prices
  10. 10.10Practical: generation cost of an island system
  1. 11.1Islands as living laboratories
  2. 11.2Island energy communities
  3. 11.3Island electric mobility
  4. 11.4Water and energy management
  5. 11.5Sustainable tourism and energy
  6. 11.6System digitalisation
  7. 11.7Citizen participation in the transition
  8. 11.8Resilience to climate change
  9. 11.9Island roadmaps
  10. 11.10Case study: 100% renewable roadmap
  1. 12.1Selecting the isolated system
  2. 12.2Analysis of the current situation
  3. 12.3Resource assessment
  4. 12.4Transition scenarios
  5. 12.5Stability studies
  6. 12.6Storage design
  7. 12.7Economic assessment of scenarios
  8. 12.8Roadmap
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is HOMER Pro, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PLEXOS, MATLAB/Simulink and PyPSA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures for dynamic frequency studies, transition scenario simulation and microgrid control testing. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Royal Decree 738/2015, Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG), IEEE 2030.7, IEEE 2030.8, IEC TS 62898-1, Law 24/2013, IEC 62257.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Royal Decree 738/2015, Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG) and IEEE 2030.7 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:HOMER Pro, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PLEXOS, MATLAB/Simulink and PyPSA, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete energy transition roadmap for a real isolated system, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Current system analysis
Analyse the generation mix, demand and costs of the isolated system.
Transition scenarios
Build renewable penetration scenarios with HOMER Pro or PyPSA.
Stability studies
Simulate frequency response to contingencies in a low-inertia system.
Storage and economics
Size storage and assess the economics of each scenario.
Master's Thesis
A complete transition roadmap for a real isolated system, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Isolated systems engineerIsland energy plannerMicrogrid engineerIsland system operatorEnergy transition consultantRural electrification engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with HOMER Pro, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PLEXOS, MATLAB/Simulink and PyPSA, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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