Energy Engineering

Energy Engineering Major:
   Energy Engineering is a comprehensive field consisting of theoretical and practical courses aimed at training skilled experts for designing, developing, managing, and operating systems for extraction, processing, conversion, transmission, distribution, and consumption of energy. The continuous undergraduate program lasts 4 years (8 semesters).
   Currently, the growing demand for energy is met through expanding energy supply systems and utilizing fossil energy resources. The rapid increase in energy consumption and the significant share of fossil energies in meeting the needs of various energy-consuming sectors have accelerated the depletion of fossil energy sources and dispersed a large volume of pollutants in the environment. Moreover, the country's economy's dependence on revenues from exporting fossil energy resources has caused the economic system to be highly influenced by global energy market developments. On the other hand, the extensive interaction of the energy sector with various technical, scientific, economic, and social developments necessitates the optimal design, development, and operation of energy systems. Thus, the role of universities in training qualified and efficient human resources in different energy fields is critically important. Considering the key role of energy interactions at the global level, reviewing the experiences of various countries in this regard is of special importance. The establishment of energy engineering as a major in universities and research centers worldwide began in the 1970s, motivated by the rapid increase in energy prices and the necessity of training specialized personnel in various energy fields. Since the mid-1970s and following the global oil market shock, due to the complexities of energy sector issues and countries' urgent need to train specialists to find appropriate solutions in various energy domains, the gradual establishment of research and educational centers in the US, major EU member states, and some Asian countries began.
   The creation of the Energy Systems Engineering major at the graduate level was proposed in 1997 and its necessity was approved by the Graduate Studies Council and Sharif University of Technology Council, receiving official authorization from the Expansion Council of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology in 1999. Student admissions in the master's program of Energy Systems Engineering at Sharif University of Technology began in October 1999. Since 2002, the Energy Systems group has admitted PhD students under the Energy Conversion track in the Mechanical Engineering department. In 2009, the doctoral program of Energy Systems Engineering was approved in the Faculty of Energy Engineering, and from 2011 onward, PhD admissions in this major commenced. Qom University of Technology also admitted students in the Energy Engineering major for the first time in October 2013.
Specialized Tracks:
Energy Systems:
   In this research area, students learn simulation techniques for combined systems (energy production, distribution, and consumption cycles) such as combined heat and power or cogeneration systems, aiming to evaluate the role of energy carriers, which is a specialized step toward analyzing systems from an energy engineering perspective. Additionally, assessing energy sector challenges through technical and economic evaluation of projects is the next step in this research. In this track, using fundamental laws of mechanics, thermodynamics, and electrical power as the basis for primary system energy balance modeling directs current technologies toward optimization and minimizing energy consumption. It also supports macro-level energy sector management, decision-making by relevant bodies and organizations, integrated planning perspectives in industries and energy sectors including the Ministry of Petroleum and Ministry of Energy, and assists national planning management by considering technical issues related to energy processes.
Energy Technologies:
   In this research area, different methods for conceptual design of advanced energy conversion systems, combined electricity, heat and cooling generation systems, and the potential of various renewable energy systems are studied using analytical tools such as mathematical programming models, computational fluid dynamics modeling, and experimental testing. Graduates of this track can, besides developing technical knowledge, plan the expansion of new technologies (roadmaps or strategic documents) in the country by understanding advanced energy technologies and renewable energy resource potentials.
Energy and Environment:
   This field examines the interaction between energy and the environment using analytical tools like fluid dynamics equations, mass and heat transfer equations, considering economic impacts. Pollutant dispersion models apply various computational fluid dynamics methods, and students assess energy recovery methods from wastes and residues with environmental considerations, playing a key role in environmental protection and pollution reduction. Since significant environmental pollution comes from fossil fuel combustion for energy supply, principles and methods to reduce environmental pollution and their technical-economic evaluations are essential issues studied here. Environmental laws and regulations, trading, optimizing water consumption and conserving water resources, treatment and reuse of industrial wastewater, structural policymaking, and ultimately enforcing environmental standards are also considered in this research field.
Employment and Job Market:
Job opportunities for graduates of this program can be summarized in two main sectors:
Public sector: Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Energy, National Iranian Oil Company, Fuel Consumption Optimization Company, New Energy Organization of Iran, Energy Efficiency Organization, Environmental Protection Organization, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, International Energy Studies Institute, Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, Tavanir and regional electricity companies, Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and other decision-making organizations in the energy sector.
Private sector: Power plant development companies, energy service companies, energy engineering companies for power plant industries, companies designing energy consumption optimization systems in industries and buildings, designing renewable energy systems (wind turbines, thermal systems, etc.)