Study structure - Hydropower Development (Master's Programme)
Programme structure
First year
The first year consists of a series of foundational courses and a larger group project where you apply knowledge from the other courses by conducting a pre feasibility study of the development alternatives in a Norwegian river system. This involves learning how to combine techniques, environment and economy to secure success.
Second year
The final year consists of four compulsory advanced courses in the autumn, while the entire spring semester is dedicated to the master's thesis.
You can choose one of the following main profiles:
Hydromechanical Systems
Hydromechanical Systems
In this profile, you will learn about the different components of a hydropower system and how they can be designed and optimized to ensure economically efficient and environmentally sustainable use of water resources, while maintaining high standards of operational safety.
You can choose from a range of topics for your project and master’s thesis related to hydropower structures, hydrological and hydraulic challenges in hydropower systems, environmental assessment, or water resources management, depending on your interests.
Hydropower and Energy Markets
Hydropower and Energy Markets
The energy market plays an important role in the optimization and operation of hydropower systems. In this profile, you will learn how hydropower production interacts with the energy market. You will also gain insight into how hydropower scheduling is optimized in response to electricity price variations and water availability, while accounting for environmental and hydraulic constraints in the watercourse.
Hydropower and Finance
Hydropower and Finance
In this profile, you will learn how economic and financial factors, key drivers in hydropower projects, can be applied to analyze potential projects and support decision-making related to the operation and refurbishment of existing hydropower plants.
Hydropower and Hydraulic Systems
Hydropower and Hydraulic Systems
In this profile, you will learn about the mechanical components of hydropower systems, including turbines and gates, and how they can be optimized. NTNU has a dedicated turbine laboratory for testing and optimizing turbines and related components, where many master’s students have conducted their research.
Hydropower and Hydroelectrical Systems
Hydropower and Hydroelectrical Systems
This profile focuses on the electrical components of hydropower systems, including generators, transformers, and grid integration. These hydroelectric components constitute a significant portion of the total cost of a hydropower system and are therefore crucial in both the planning process and the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants.
Hydropower and Underground Systems
Hydropower and Underground Systems
Tunnels and underground constructions are an important part of hydropower planning. In this profile, you will learn about the key factors to consider during both the planning and operational phases of a hydropower system. Building on this knowledge, you will complete a project in the 3rd semester on hydropower-related underground topics, preparing you for a master’s thesis focused on geology in hydropower.