About the Summer School
The programme will help students understand that climate neutrality cannot be achieved only by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. A truly sustainable transition also requires responsible use of materials, better product design, repair, reuse, recycling, recovery of critical raw materials and reduction of the material footprint of energy systems.
Energy Transition Academy: Circular Economy & Life Cycle Thinking is an international summer school focused on one of the most important challenges of today’s energy transition: how to build a low-carbon energy system that is not only clean, but also resource-efficient, circular and sustainable in the long term.
The programme goes beyond the traditional discussion on renewable energy. It shows that photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, energy storage technologies and modern power infrastructure require large amounts of metals, minerals and advanced components. Many of these materials are critical for the European economy and are linked to supply-chain risks, geopolitical dependencies and growing end-of-life waste streams.
That is why the summer school combines energy transition, circular economy and life cycle thinking. Participants will learn how to assess environmental impacts, understand material flows, identify resource-related risks and design more circular solutions for energy technologies.
Why is it important?
The energy transition is essential for climate protection, but it also creates new environmental and resource challenges. Clean energy technologies may reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they can increase demand for critical raw materials and generate complex waste at the end of their life cycle.
Future engineers, researchers and decision-makers need to understand these trade-offs. They must be able to look at technologies not only from the perspective of energy production, but also from the perspective of materials, environmental impacts, circularity and long-term sustainability.
The scope
Completion Requirements
To successfully complete the summer school and receive a certificate with micro-credentials, participants must:
-
take part in both the online and on-site components of the programme,
-
attend the required classes, workshops and study activities,
-
actively participate in group work, discussions and practical assignments,
-
complete the required learning tasks or final project,
-
take part in the verification of learning outcomes,
-
submit all required evaluation and participation documents.
A certificate with micro-credentials will be issued only to participants who fulfil the programme requirements and confirm the achievement of the expected learning outcomes.
Learning experience
CURRENT
TOPICS
Explore key challenges of the energy transition, circular economy, life cycle thinking, critical raw materials and sustainable technologies.
FINANCIAL
SUPPORT
Eligible international participants may receive financial support for travel, accommodation and subsistence costs, according to the project rules.
MICRO-
CREDENTIALS
Receive a certificate of participation and micro-credentials confirming the learning outcomes achieved during the Summer School.
INTERNATIONAL
EXPERIENCE
Join students from different countries, exchange perspectives and build international academic networks during the online and on-site parts of the Summer School.