Diploma in PPAs, Flexibility and Demand Aggregation
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in PPAs, flexibility and demand aggregation. 8 modules covering electricity markets and energy procurement, PPA contracts and valuation, demand flexibility, demand aggregation, flexibility services and regulation and risk, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in PPAs, Flexibility and Demand Aggregation — studying from South Africa
The automotive sector is one of South Africa's most important manufacturing industries, with major plants in the Eastern Cape around Gqeberha, in KwaZulu-Natal and in Gauteng. Manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Ford and Volkswagen South Africa operate assembly and component facilities that export vehicles and parts across Africa and beyond. The sector relies on engineers skilled in powertrain design, vehicle dynamics, quality and production systems. Motorsport activity, including circuits at Kyalami and Zwartkops, adds further demand for performance engineering.
Fees for South Africa: R 27 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies recognise automotive engineering skills, and does SEIUM count?
Professional recognition for engineers in South Africa runs through ECSA, which registers engineers, technicians and technologists under the Engineering Profession Act. Automotive trades also fall under bodies such as the MERSETA for skills development. SEIUM is a private online institute whose qualifications are not state degrees and are not accredited by a national body, so whether they are recognised is up to the employer or the relevant body to decide.
Will this programme help me find work in South Africa's automotive or motorsport industry?
South Africa has a significant automotive manufacturing and component sector, and motorsport teams and suppliers also hire engineers. Employers typically look at practical experience, recognised qualifications and references. A private online qualification can strengthen your profile in specialist areas, but it does not guarantee employment. Speak to potential employers about whether they would value it.
How does the course fit around a job, and how are fees paid?
The programme is delivered entirely online in English, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so choose the level that matches your available time. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Ask your employer whether they would fund part of the training.
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
Understand electricity markets and energy procurement.
Structure suitable PPA contracts.
Value PPAs taking their risks into account.
Identify demand-side flexibility.
Design demand aggregation models.
Take part in flexibility services.
Manage regulatory and market risks.
Who it's for
- Energy procurement managers at industrial consumers.
- PPA analysts structuring and valuing renewable contracts.
- Flexibility managers responsible for demand response and balancing services.
- Energy traders working on forward and short-term markets.
- Industrial energy consultants advising energy-intensive companies.
- Aggregation portfolio managers at independent aggregators and retailers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the energy sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive (EU) 2019/944 (internal market for electricity)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1747 (electricity market design reform)
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 (electricity balancing guideline)
- Regulation (EU) 1227/2011 (REMIT) (wholesale energy market integrity and transparency)
- Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III) (renewable energy directive)
- Spanish Electricity Sector Act 24/2013 (national electricity framework)
- EFET PPA templates (standard PPA contracts)
- Python with pandas
- PLEXOS
- Aurora Energy Research
- Microsoft Excel
- Power BI
8 modules
1.1Wholesale market and price formation1.2Forward markets1.3Price risks for consumers1.4Renewable capture prices1.5Solar price cannibalisation1.6Guarantees of origin1.7Industrial consumption profile1.8Procurement strategies1.9European market trends1.10Case study: risk profile of an industrial consumer
2.1Physical and financial PPAs2.2On-site and off-site PPAs2.3Pay-as-produced and baseload structures2.4Fixed, indexed and collar pricing2.5Profile and shape risk2.6EFET contracts and templates2.7Collateral and counterparty risk2.8Change-in-law clauses2.9Accounting for PPAs and derivatives2.10Workshop: comparison of PPA structures
3.1Renewable generation forecasting3.2Long-term price curves3.3Valuation of profile risk3.4Value of guarantees of origin3.5Scenario simulation3.6Volume risk3.7Cannibalisation risk3.8Comparison with market purchasing3.9Price negotiation3.10Lab: valuation model for a solar PPA
4.1Sources of industrial flexibility4.2Identifying shiftable processes4.3Thermal and electrical storage4.4Electric vehicle load management4.5Heat pumps and HVAC4.6Measuring flexibility4.7Baseline and verification4.8Cost of flexibility4.9Impact on production4.10Practical exercise: flexibility inventory of a factory
5.1The role of the aggregator5.2Aggregation of small consumers5.3Aggregation platforms5.4Technical telemetry requirements5.5Prequalification with the system operator5.6Prequalification tests5.7Settlement and imbalances5.8Revenue sharing5.9Aggregation contracts5.10Case study: aggregated portfolio for balancing services
6.1European balancing services6.2PICASSO and MARI platforms6.3Regulation reserve6.4Active demand response service6.5Services to the distribution system operator6.6Local flexibility markets6.7Interruptibility and its evolution6.8Capacity and capacity mechanisms6.9Combining services6.10Workshop: service stacking strategy
7.1Electricity Market Directive7.22024 market design regulation7.3Spanish regulation on aggregation7.4Electricity balancing network code7.5REMIT and transparency7.6Regulatory risk management7.7Credit risk7.8Portfolio risk management7.9Compliance and reporting7.10Practical exercise: PPA and flexibility risk matrix
8.1Selection of the consumer8.2Consumption analysis8.3PPA strategy8.4Economic valuation of the strategy8.5Flexibility plan8.6Aggregation model8.7Risk analysis8.8Conclusions and areas for improvement8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 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 the intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is Python with pandas, PLEXOS, Aurora Energy Research, Microsoft Excel and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: valuation of a solar PPA, an industrial flexibility inventory and simulation of an aggregated portfolio. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Directive (EU) 2019/944, Regulation (EU) 2024/1747, Regulation (EU) 2017/2195, Regulation (EU) 1227/2011 (REMIT), Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III), Spanish Electricity Sector Act 24/2013, EFET PPA templates.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Python with pandas, PLEXOS, Aurora Energy Research, Microsoft Excel and Power BI, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a suitable computer 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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