Course in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities
Online 300 h course in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities. 6 modules covering Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413), Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency and QGIS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities — studying from Malta
Malta's civil engineering sector is active, driven by ongoing construction, infrastructure upgrades, coastal works and urban regeneration projects across the islands. Demand for civil engineers is closely linked to public works, land development and the modernisation of transport networks. Smart city initiatives, including digital mapping, traffic management and sustainable urban planning, are increasingly relevant. Engineers typically find employment with contractors, consultancies, government departments and utility providers managing infrastructure in a densely populated environment.
Fees for Malta: €797 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which Maltese bodies regulate civil engineering and related professional practice?
The Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' in Malta under the Engineering Profession Act. Planning and development matters fall under the Planning Authority, and public works and transport infrastructure involve government agencies including Transport Malta. A SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition is decided by employers or the relevant body.
What employers in Malta would value civil, rail or smart city engineering skills?
Malta's construction, infrastructure, consultancy and public sector firms are the main employers, along with transport and utilities bodies. Smart city and digital infrastructure work is growing in some areas. Employers typically look for chartered-level experience and licensing, so a private qualification should be seen as supporting your professional development rather than a substitute for those requirements.
How can I study this while working on site, and what support is there?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, so you can study from anywhere in Malta without a student visa. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, and the course ends with a final project. Time commitment depends on the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours. Ask about instalment payments and employer sponsorship to help manage costs.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse a city's energy balance and its trends.
Assess urban renewable potential using GIS tools.
Design efficiency solutions and district heating and cooling networks.
Understand demand flexibility and smart grids.
Promote energy communities and collective self-consumption.
Plan municipal strategies for a just energy transition.
Evaluate the economics of transition measures and their financing.
Who it's for
- Municipal energy manager who wishes to specialise in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities.
- Renewable energy engineer who wishes to specialise in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities.
- Energy transition consultant who wishes to specialise in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities.
- Energy community technician who wishes to specialise in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities.
- Urban energy planner who wishes to specialise in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities.
- Energy auditor who wishes to specialise in Energy Transition Strategies in Cities.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter local government.
What you'll work with
- Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413)
- Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency
- Royal Decree 244/2019 on self-consumption of electrical energy
- Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings
- Royal Decree 390/2021 establishing the basic procedure for the energy certification of buildings
- Law 7/2021 on climate change and energy transition
- Royal Decree 314/2006 Technical Building Code (DB-HE)
- ISO 50001 Energy management systems
6 modules · 300 h
1.1City energy balance1.2Demand by use: thermal, electrical, mobility1.3Electrification of final demand1.4Available local renewable resources1.5Distribution networks and their transformation1.6Actors: distribution companies, retailers, citizens1.7Prosumers and energy democratisation1.8Renewable hydrogen and its urban role1.9Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan1.10Practical: energy balance of a municipality
2.1Rooftop photovoltaics and solar potential2.2Solar maps with LiDAR2.3Individual and collective self-consumption2.4Renewable energy communities2.5Shallow geothermal energy and heat pumps2.6Biomass and biogas in an urban context2.7Small wind and architectural integration2.8Residential battery storage2.9Administrative procedures and licences2.10Laboratory: solar potential of a neighbourhood with QGIS
3.1Energy retrofitting at neighbourhood scale3.2Energy certification of buildings3.3Nearly zero-energy buildings3.4Fourth and fifth generation district heating and cooling networks3.5Use of urban waste heat3.6Energy management of public buildings3.7Efficient lighting and remote management3.8Energy services and EPC contracts3.9Building renovation passport3.10Workshop: pre-design of a district heating network
4.1Smart meters and consumption data4.2Demand management and flexible response4.3Independent demand aggregators4.4Smart charging of electric vehicles4.5Vehicle-to-grid and distributed storage4.6Local flexibility markets4.7Urban microgrids and islanded operation4.8Distribution network planning4.9Digitalisation and network digital twins4.10Case study: mass charging on low voltage
5.1Climate and energy action plans5.2Integrated urban energy planning5.3Community transformation offices5.4Energy poverty and a just transition5.5Financing: IDAE, European funds, ESCOs5.6Solar and efficiency ordinances5.7Citizen participation in the transition5.8Energy indicators for monitoring5.9Experiences from Freiburg, Vienna and Pamplona5.10Case study: energy strategy of a medium-sized municipality
6.1Selection of scope and diagnosis6.2Reference energy balance6.3Local renewable potential6.4Efficiency and electrification measures6.5Proposed energy community model6.6Economic and financing analysis6.7Impact on emissions and energy poverty6.8Implementation roadmap6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, PVsyst, EnergyPlus, HOMER Pro, LEAP, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The tests are based on real procedures for assessing the solar potential of a neighbourhood, pre-designing a district heating network and designing a local energy community. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus a final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Analyse a city's energy balance and its trends.
Assess urban renewable potential using GIS tools.
Design efficiency solutions and district heating and cooling networks.
Understand demand flexibility and smart grids.
Promote energy communities and collective self-consumption.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Spanish-language proficiency sufficient to read technical regulations.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme consists of 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
The programme uses QGIS, PVsyst, EnergyPlus, HOMER Pro and LEAP. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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