Program Content for the MSc in Management of Energy Transitions

This program explores the key challenges and solutions related to the energy transitions by combining lectures, tutorials, and hands-on projects to provide a comprehensive understanding of various energy options and the path towards a sustainable future.

Discover the program content for the 2024-2025 academic year:

This program begins by exploring the full spectrum of energy solutions - from wind and solar to nuclear, fossil fuels and hydrogen technologies - giving you a thorough understanding of their technical principles, challenges, and opportunities. You'll dive deep into crucial aspects of the energy transition, including cutting-edge battery storage solutions and carbon capture technologies while mastering the economics of electricity and gas markets.

The semester uniquely combines technical knowledge with business acumen through courses in climate finance, carbon markets, and critical raw materials management. With a strong emphasis on energy efficiency, you will develop the strategic thinking needed to drive the energy transition forward.

📅 September to December

Course modules and Instructors:

• Energy Transitions 101 - Xavier Blot, Associate Professor, emlyon
• Wind Energy - Omar Alaoui and Noé Mallet, Renewable and Public Affairs Manager, RWE
• Solar Energy - Daniel Mugnier, Chairman, IEA PVPS program and Director, Planair
• Hydrogen Technologies - Nicolas Ferrando, Hydrogen R&D and project manager, IFPEN School
• Nuclear Energy - Frank Carre, Scientific Director, CEA
• Storage and Batteries - Louis Roche, Sustainability Engineer, Verkor
• Carbon Capture - François de Rochette, Associate, RMI
• Fossil Fuels - Maxime Schenckery, Director, Center for Energy Economics and Management, IFP School
• Energy / Gas Markets & Climate Finance - Jean-Baptiste Vaujour, Professor of Practice, emlyon,
• Raw Materials - Eric David, professor, emlyon
• Efficiency & Sufficiency - Thibaud Voïta, Research Associate, IFRI, and Advisor, Jacques Delors Institute

The Semester will also include a report developed by the students with support from a think tank

In your second semester, delve into the strategic and practical aspects of energy transition management. Combining entrepreneurial innovation with systemic thinking, this term prepares you for leadership roles in the evolving energy sector. You will master climate tech entrepreneurship and innovative business models while developing a sustainable approach to complex organizational challenges. The semester also provides key insights into international energy politics and climate change dynamics, helping you understand how global trends influence business decisions.

The program provides essential risk management skills, covering energy pricing and natural disaster assessment, while integrating circular economy principles. What sets this semester apart is its holistic approach, blending practical business skills with a deep understanding of societal, economic, and ecological impacts. Through case studies, field missions, and interactive learning, you’ll gain the expertise to drive sustainable innovation in the energy sector.

📅 January to April

Course modules and instructors:

• Climate tech entrepreneurship - Xavier Blot, Associate Professor, emlyon
• Circular Economy - Olaf de Hemmer, Advisor, Value Creation and Antoine Desclos le Peley, Supplier Quality and Productivity Leader, GE Verona
• Systems Thinking - Jeroen Struben, Associate Professor, emlyon
• International Politics of Energy - Thibaud Voïta
• Risk Management - Anna Timonina-Farkas, Associate Professor, emlyon,
• Energy Challenges - Sara Moarif, Consultant, former Head of the Climate Change and Environment Unit, International Energy Agency
  
  In addition, one of the key deliverables of the semester will be a climate tech project through collaboration with startups via our partnership with Techstars Paris, learning to transform ideas into viable business solutions

📅 May to August

The professional mission will last 4 months from May to August of the 1st year and can be an internship or an entrepreneurial project. This is a great opportunity to put your academic knowledge to the test and acquire tangible experience within the industry.

The first period of year 2 sharpens your strategic expertise, focusing on practical solutions for energy transition challenges. You’ll learn to design and implement carbon strategies through hands-on projects with industry partners, mastering key decarbonization tools like the GHG Protocol, CDP framework, and Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The semester strengthens your professional toolkit in strategic governance, project financing, and industrialization challenges, preparing you to lead major energy projects. What sets this term apart is its emphasis on real-world application – from managing stakeholder ecosystems to mastering project financing models for renewable energy.

📅 September to December

Course modules and Instructors:

• Building Carbon Strategies - Xavier Blot, Associate Professor, emlyon
• Decarbonization Tools - Sara Moubarak , Climate Risk & Strategy Expert, Quantis
• Sustainable Supply Chain Risks - Vincent Chambon , Manufacturing Solution Analyst, O-I
• EU Energy and Climate Policy - Camille Defard, Head of the Energy Center, Jacques Delors Institute
• Strategic Governance - Arnaud Lemant, Business Development Manager, Vinci Energies and Olivier Cateura, Professor, emlyon
• Challenges of Industrialization - Maxime Katgely, Founding Partner and Managing Director, Rongyi Solutions and Anaïs Voy-Gillis, Chief Strategy and CSR Officer, Humens
• Project Financing in Renewable Energy - Karim Megherbi, Founding Executive Director, Orisun Invest
• Project Management & Consulting methodologies - Charles Revue, Associate Professor, emlyon

📅 January to April

The second period of year 2 represents the pinnacle of your energy transition expertise, offering deep dives into specific sectors and real-world applications. This transformative term combines focused industry knowledge with hands-on field experience across critical sectors like buildings, transport, and power infrastructure. You'll master the complexities of building sector decarbonization, explore cutting-edge developments in mobility electrification, and analyze advanced power transmission and distribution systems

Through Clean Energy Week, you'll also gain valuable insights into crucial social aspects of energy transition, including gender equality, energy poverty, and just transition principles.

Course modules and Instructors:

• Field Missions on Decarbonization - Xavier Blot, Associate Professor, emlyon
• Building Sector Decarbonization - Nicolas Desquinabo, Consultant and & Audrey Zermati, Strategy Director, Effy
• Heating, Lighting & Appliances - Patrick Blake , Climate and Energy Manager, UNEP
• Electrification of Mobility - Gilles Moreau, Chief Open Innovation and Sustainability Officer, Founder, Verkor
• Air and Maritime Transport - Adrien Halle , Environment and Sustainability Manager, Elyse Energy
• T&D of Electricity & Interconnections - Jean-Baptiste Vaujour
• Offshore Wind Value Chain - Stéphane His, Consultant former Senior Expert, French Development Agency (AFD)
• Access to Electricity in Emerging Countries - Mohamed Cama, Deputy Chief of Party and Operation Lead, Tetra Tech
• Nuclear Value Chain - Gabriele Grassi, Deputy head of division, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency

📅 April to May 📍China, Shanghai Jiaotong University

Cap your master's degree with a transformative semester in Shanghai, immersing yourself in one of the world's most dynamic energy markets. This exchange term offers deep insights into Asia’s business environment and China’s ambitious energy transition strategies. You’ll gain firsthand experience of China’s global energy leadership, from dominating renewable investments to leading supply chains in solar PV, batteries, and EVs.

The semester features a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application through in-company consulting projects with local firms. Its unique focus on both business fundamentals and energy transition specifics in the Asian context equips you for international careers. Direct engagement with industry leaders and real-world consulting sharpens your cross-cultural and regional expertise, highly valued by global organizations.

Course modules and Instructors:

• Asia Business Environment & In-Companies Consulting Project - Nikola Zivlak, Director of International Cooperation, emlyon, Asia Campus
• Energy Transition - Asia Perspective - Zhao He, Associate principle, McKinsey & Company
• Thesis methodology -

The Master's Thesis is an analytical work on a topic related to the industry and to the professional experience gained during your internship. This is a great opportunity for you to research a subject which is not only of particular interest, but which has the potential to contribute powerfully to your personal and professional development.

The in-company project, a key component of the program, provides you with valuable hands-on experience before starting your internship or first job. This project involves a group of students collaborating on a real-world business or management issue presented by a company. The challenge could also focus on developing new business initiatives and analyzing the market to shape future strategies and directions.

By engaging in a business project, you will:

• Apply the academic knowledge you've recently gained
• Acquire practical experience while working on a concrete project within a supportive environment
• Develop intercultural competencies and navigate diverse business and cultural settings
• Expand your network by connecting with alumni, fellow students, and partners.

The professional mission will last between 4 to 6 months and can take the form of an internship, a VIE (international volunteering mission), or an entrepreneurial project. This is an excellent opportunity to apply your academic knowledge in a real-world context, gaining valuable experience in your chosen field. Whether you're seeking employment or launching your own business, the school provides all the support and resources necessary to help you succeed in finding the right path for your career.

📝 Assessment methods may include case studies, presentations, mock exercises, tests, etc.