Postgraduate Diploma in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management. 8 modules covering Royal Decree 960/2020 (Renewable Energy Economic Regime), Order TED/1161/2020 (REER auction timetable) and Advanced Excel. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management — studying from South Africa
Energy is a defining sector in South Africa, with Eskom operating the bulk of the national generation and transmission network and independent power producers increasingly contributing renewable capacity. Grid modernisation, renewable integration and distribution management create steady demand for engineers. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa oversees electricity regulation, while municipalities manage local distribution. Energy engineers typically work on generation, transmission, protection and system planning.
Fees for South Africa: R 16 700 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African bodies regulate energy and networks engineers, and would SEIUM count?
Energy engineers in South Africa are registered through ECSA, and the electricity sector is regulated by NERSA. Utilities and networks often require registered professionals for certain work. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Recognition is for employers and the relevant body to decide, so verify this before enrolling.
Will this qualification help me find work with energy or network employers in South Africa?
South Africa's energy sector includes Eskom, municipalities, independent power producers and grid-related firms, which typically hire registered and experienced engineers. A private online qualification may support your application but does not guarantee a role. Check with target employers how they view it, and combine it with practical experience where possible.
How do I manage the workload, and can I get help with fees?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you need good English, and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so ask your employer whether they would support the cost.
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
Compare the support mechanisms for renewable energy.
Analyse the design of auctions and their key parameters.
Explain how the Renewable Energy Economic Regime works.
Build a bidding strategy for an auction.
Assess PPAs against regulated revenue schemes.
Identify sources of regulatory risk in renewable projects.
Propose instruments to manage and mitigate regulatory risk.
Who it's for
- PPA origination analyst looking to specialise in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management.
- Energy regulation specialist looking to specialise in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management.
- Renewable auction manager looking to specialise in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management.
- Energy price analyst looking to specialise in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management.
- Commercial strategy consultant looking to specialise in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management.
- Regulatory affairs manager looking to specialise in PPAs, Auctions and Regulatory Risk Management.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter renewable generation.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 960/2020 (Renewable Energy Economic Regime)
- Order TED/1161/2020 (REER auction timetable)
- Law 24/2013 (Electricity Sector)
- Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (promotion of renewables, RED II)
- Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1747 (reform of the electricity market design)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Premiums, feed-in tariffs and feed-in premiums1.2Specific remuneration regime in Spain1.3Auctions as an allocation mechanism1.4Contracts for difference1.5Green certificates and quotas1.6Historical evolution of support in Spain1.7EU State aid guidelines1.8EU electricity market reform of 20241.9International comparison1.10Workshop: comparison of support mechanisms in five countries
2.1Auction theory applied to energy2.2Sealed-bid and pay-as-bid auctions2.3Marginal price auction2.4Auctioned product: energy or capacity2.5Reserve prices and confidentiality2.6Qualification and guarantees2.7Penalties for non-compliance2.8Competition and collusion risks2.9Technology-neutral versus technology-specific auctions2.10Practice: simulation of a pay-as-bid auction
3.1Royal Decree 960/2020 on the REER3.2Auction order and timetable3.3Award price and market adjustment3.4Market adjustment percentage3.5Compliance milestones3.6Results of Spanish auctions3.7Lessons from undersubscribed auctions3.8Storage and capacity auctions3.9Auctions in other European countries3.10Case study: analysis of the results of a REER auction
4.1Levelised cost and offer price4.2Valuation of regulated revenue4.3Risk of the merchant portion4.4Bid optimisation4.5Game theory and competitors4.6Public information and estimates4.7Project portfolio and bidding4.8Decision whether to bid4.9Guarantee management4.10Laboratory: optimal bidding model for an auction
5.1Comparison of PPA and auction risks5.2Combining auctions and PPAs5.3Bankability of each scheme5.4PPAs with the public sector5.5Two-way contracts for difference5.6Long-term contracting in the European reform5.7Public and private counterparty risks5.8Impact on the cost of capital5.9Selecting the commercial strategy5.10Practice: comparison of auction and PPA cash flows
6.1Concept of regulatory risk6.2Retroactive changes and their impact6.3Cases of remuneration cuts in Spain6.4Arbitration under the Energy Charter Treaty6.5Legal certainty and stability6.6Emergency measures: price caps and levies6.7Iberian mechanism of 20226.8Change-in-law risk in contracts6.9Political risk insurance6.10Case study: analysis of market intervention in 2022
7.1Identification of regulatory risks7.2Quantification with scenarios7.3Monitoring the regulatory agenda7.4Participation in public consultations7.5Contractual protection clauses7.6Geographic diversification7.7Communication with investors7.8Regulatory risk map7.9Early warning indicators7.10Workshop: regulatory risk map for a renewables portfolio
8.1Description of the project or portfolio8.2Analysis of the support framework8.3Auction participation strategy8.4Comparison with PPA alternatives8.5Valuation model8.6Regulatory risk assessment8.7Mitigation plan8.8Final recommendation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Advanced Excel, Python (pandas), PLEXOS, @RISK, Aurora, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The exercises are based on real procedures for bidding models in renewable auctions, comparative valuation of PPAs and regulated revenues, and analysis of regulatory risk scenarios. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Compare the support mechanisms for renewable energy.
Analyse the design of auctions and their key parameters.
Explain how the Renewable Energy Economic Regime works.
Build a bidding strategy for an auction.
Assess PPAs against regulated revenue schemes.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses Advanced Excel, Python (pandas), PLEXOS, @RISK, Aurora. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is the Institute's own 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 credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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