PhD in Bioenergy

It started in the academic years 2009-2010. Duration of 3 years. The minimum number of credits for the degree is 180 ECTS.

Objectives

The growing demand for energy, with the simultaneous increasing scarcity of certain non-renewable fossil fuels and environmental concerns resulting from burning, have led to a progressively increasing goal setting of energy production from renewable sources by countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Thus, the demand for renewable energy sources and the expanding, in number of installed capacity of renewable energy generation plants, have involved very significant investments in the EU and at also at National level.

In this context, energy production from biomass (forestry and dedicated) and waste have been playing an important role at the level of regional, national and European economies, namely the production of solid biofuels from forest biomass or biomass dedicated, liquid fuels from biomass and waste and gaseous biofuels from biomass and waste, as well as the technologies of its heat recovery which has taken, in recent years, a key role in the production of steam and electricity in several European countries.

It is expected that investments in the bioenergy sector will continue to grow in the coming years, whether at European level or at national level. The interdisciplinary nature of the PhD ensures the acquisition of a high-level academic training in the systematic understanding of the scientific area of Energy and Bioenergy:

• Capacity to identify, analyze and evaluate issues related to energy production from biomass and waste;
• Ability to devise answers, to program and implement innovative solutions for the use of recoverable energy products, based on the development of focused research;
• Ability to design, develop and implement appropriate methodologies for forest materials valuation, development of biological cycles, consequences of its activities and the occurrence of risk situations;
• Ability to propose answers, plan and implement innovative solutions in processes standardization and products certification, production systems and processing of recyclable materials from the energy point of view;
• Ability to design, develop and implement appropriate methodologies for improving biomass energy recovery technologies;
• Ability to design, develop and implement methodologies to assess the qualitative aspects of energy production and distribution processes, obtained from biomass and energy-recoverable waste, as part of an environmental and forest policy;
• Ability to develop, integrate and disseminate the acquired knowledge and new concepts in academic and / or professional context and by promoting technological progress, social or cultural.

Structure

1. Teaching component, called doctoral degree (60 ECTS);
2. Non-teaching component, called Thesis (120 ECTS);
3. A maximum of 18 ECTS, may be credited to the teaching component for activities or previous training ;
4. The conclusion of the PhD course gives the right to the award of an Advanced Studies Diploma.

Course plan

The study cycle consists of a teaching component, doctoral program (60 ECTS), and a non-teaching component, thesis (120 ECTS), totaling 180 ECTS.

From the 180 ECTS, 153 are obtained in compulsory courses in Energy and Bioenergy Science. The remaining 27, are obtained in courses with optional character: 6 ECTS must be obtained in the scientific area of Energy and Bioenergy; 6 ECTS in the scientific area of Energy and Bioenergy or in the scientific area of Alternative Energies; 15 ECTS are of a free choice nature basis, by conducting courses of the 3rd cycle, taught at the FCT / NOVA or other institutions. From the 180 ECTS, 153 are obtained in compulsory courses in Energy and Bioenergy Science. The remaining 27, are obtained in courses with optional character: 6 ECTS must be obtained in the scientific area of Energy and Bioenergy; 6 ECTS in the scientific area of Energy and Bioenergy or in the scientific area of Alternative Energies; 15 ECTS are on a free choice basis, by conducting courses of the 3rd cycle, taught in the FCT / UNL or at other institutions.

The PhD course syllabus is defined for each doctoral student by the respective PhD’s Scientific Committee.

Upon admission, courses may be credited for activities or previous training, up to 30% of the total number of courses that are part of the teaching component (18 ECTS).

The conclusion of the PhD course gives the right to the award of an Advanced Studies Diploma.

Curricular Structure

Doctoral Course  (60 ECTS)

Conditioned Options¹ – Conclusion of one of the presented options. 

Thesis in Energy and Bioenergy  (120 ECTS) 

* The research and thesis writing are to be made on the 2nd and 3rd years of the PhD, and correspond, respectively to 60 and 60 ECTS.

Career opportunities

1. Researchers training and highly qualified professionals in research settings or at the level of technical and industrial applications.
2. Enabled to design and develop research and development activities, and in identifying business opportunities and development projects.
3. Qualified for the provision of consultancy services and industries and services market intervention, energy production and management from biomass and waste.
4. Able to integrate international teams of recognized merit in the public and private sector, at national, European and global levels.