Urban Energy Engineering: Heat/Cold Networks and Microgrids (flexibility, local markets).
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in urban energy engineering for district heating, structured in 12 modules covering heating and cooling networks, thermal demand, energy sources, hydraulic design, substations, thermal storage, district cooling, simulation, energy system integration, economics and operation, with Directive (EU) 2023/1791, Directive (EU) 2023/2413 and energyPRO, and an assigned technical tutor.
Urban Energy Engineering: Heat/Cold Networks and Microgrids (flexibility, local markets). — studying from the United Kingdom
Civil and infrastructure engineering is a major employment sector in the United Kingdom, with significant activity in transport, water, energy and urban regeneration. Rail projects such as HS2 and ongoing network upgrades by Network Rail create demand for engineers in track, signalling, structures and systems. Smart city initiatives in cities including Manchester, Glasgow and Milton Keynes apply digital technologies to mobility, utilities and public services. Major contractors and consultancies including Balfour Beatty, Arup and AECOM employ civil and rail professionals across the country.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £8,280 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK professional bodies are relevant to civil and rail engineering qualifications?
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and, for rail, bodies such as the Permanent Way Institution and the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers are relevant in the UK. Chartered status is handled through the Engineering Council. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so you should confirm with ICE or the relevant institution how your study would be treated.
Do UK civil, rail and smart city employers recognise online private qualifications?
UK infrastructure employers, including consultancies, contractors, rail operators and local authorities, generally recruit based on competence, professional registration and project experience. A private qualification can add to your profile, but employers decide its relevance. Practical experience and progress towards professional registration usually carry more weight.
How does online study fit with a UK working schedule, and what about funding?
Online study lets you keep working in the UK, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Fees are payable in instalments, and some employers support job-related training, which is common practice in general terms but varies by employer. Each programme has a defined number of hours and an assigned technical tutor. Review the hours and funding options before enrolling.
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
Plan heating and cooling networks based on urban demand.
Select renewable and waste heat sources.
Carry out the hydraulic design of networks and user substations.
Integrate daily and seasonal thermal storage.
Simulate and optimise the operation of thermal networks.
Integrate networks into the energy system and provide flexibility.
Assess the economics, regulation and procurement of networks.
Who it's for
- District heating and cooling engineers.
- Urban energy planners.
- Thermal network operations managers.
- Heat decarbonisation consultants.
- Biomass and geothermal project engineers.
- Energy market analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the energy sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive (EU) 2023/1791 (Energy Efficiency Directive)
- Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (Renewable Energy Directive (RED III))
- EN 253:2019 (pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for district heating)
- EN 13941-1 (design and installation of district heating pipe systems)
- Royal Decree 1027/2007 (RITE) (Spanish Regulation on Thermal Installations in Buildings)
- EN 1434 (thermal energy meters)
- Royal Decree 36/2023 (Spanish energy savings certificates system)
- EN 15316-4-5 (energy performance of district heating and cooling)
- energyPRO
- TRNSYS
- QGIS
- Python
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The urban district heating and cooling concept1.2Generations of district heating networks1.3Fourth- and fifth-generation networks1.4Energy and environmental advantages1.5Status of networks in Spain and Europe1.6The Energy Efficiency Directive and networks1.7Heat maps and planning1.8Stakeholders and business models1.9Barriers to network development1.10Case study: analysis of the Copenhagen network
2.1Space heating demand of buildings2.2Domestic hot water demand2.3Cooling demand2.4Degree-days and climate2.5Hourly demand profiles2.6Simultaneity factors2.7Heat demand density maps2.8Demand models for building stocks2.9Effect of retrofitting on demand2.10Lab: heat demand map in QGIS
3.1Biomass boilers for networks3.2High-efficiency cogeneration3.3Large-scale heat pumps3.4Large-scale solar thermal3.5Shallow and deep geothermal3.6Industrial waste heat3.7Energy recovery from waste in networks3.8Waste heat from data centres3.9Optimising the generation mix3.10Practical exercise: selecting the mix for a neighbourhood network
4.1Branched and meshed network topologies4.2Pre-insulated pipes to EN 2534.3Pipe diameter sizing4.4Pressure losses and differential pressure4.5Network pumping stations4.6Supply and return temperatures4.7Heat losses in distribution4.8Thermal expansion and compensators4.9Hydraulic simulation with specialist software4.10Workshop: sizing a district network
5.1Direct and indirect user substations5.2Plate heat exchangers5.3Heat energy meters5.4Substation control5.5Connecting existing buildings5.6Adapting internal installations5.7Low-temperature operation5.8DHW production at the substation5.9User billing and tariffs5.10Lab: sizing a substation
6.1Pressurised water tanks6.2Seasonal thermal storage6.3Pit thermal energy storage (PTES)6.4Borehole thermal energy storage (BTES)6.5Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES)6.6Phase-change materials6.7Thermal stratification in tanks6.8Integrating storage with renewables6.9Economics of thermal storage6.10Case study: Vojens seasonal storage
7.1Urban cooling demand7.2Centralised district chillers7.3Absorption chillers using waste heat7.4Free cooling7.5Seawater cooling7.6Ice-based cold storage7.7Chilled water distribution7.8The cases of Paris and Barcelona7.9Combined heating and cooling networks7.10Practical exercise: cooling network for a commercial district
8.1Dynamic models of thermal networks8.2Optimisation of network design8.3Economic dispatch of generation8.4AI-based demand forecasting8.5Digital twins of heating networks8.6Urban simulation tools8.7Variable-temperature network operation8.8Reducing return temperatures8.9Leak and anomaly detection8.10Lab: dispatch optimisation with Python
9.1Energy sector coupling9.2Power-to-heat with renewable surpluses9.3Electrification of heating9.4Flexibility for the electricity grid9.5The role of hydrogen in heat9.6Thermal energy communities9.7Grid-connected thermal prosumers9.8Integrated energy planning9.9Local heating and cooling plans9.10Workshop: decarbonisation scenario for urban heat
10.1Investment in heating networks10.2Levelised cost of heat10.3Heat tariff design10.4Municipal network concessions10.5ESCO models and energy services10.6European funding and grants10.7Regulation of heating networks in Spain10.8Energy savings certificates (CAE)10.9Demand and connection risks10.10Practical exercise: economic model of a biomass network
11.1Construction works in urban settings11.2Trenching and coordination with utilities11.3Welding and pipe joints11.4Pressure and leak-tightness tests11.5Network commissioning11.6Day-to-day operation of the plant11.7Substation maintenance11.8Leak monitoring with detection wires11.9Safety in thermal installations11.10Case study: extending a network in service
12.1Delimitation of the service area12.2Thermal demand study12.3Selection of energy sources12.4Hydraulic network design12.5Design of the plant and storage12.6Simulation of annual operation12.7Economic analysis and tariffs12.8Assessment of avoided emissions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is energyPRO, TRNSYS, QGIS and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: heat demand maps of real neighbourhoods, annual simulation of networks with storage and economic models of heating networks. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive (EU) 2023/1791, Directive (EU) 2023/2413, EN 253:2019, EN 13941-1, Royal Decree 1027/2007 (RITE), EN 1434, Royal Decree 36/2023, EN 15316-4-5.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's 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.
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 energyPRO, TRNSYS, QGIS and Python, 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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