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Master’s in DC and Nano Networks Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in DC networks and nanogrid engineering. 12 modules covering nanogrids and microgrids, DC-DC converters, droop and hierarchical control, storage and BMS, DC protection, DC buildings, data centres and special applications, rural electrification and energy management, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Analyse the advantages and applications of DC networks.

02

Design nanogrids and microgrids with DC or hybrid architecture.

03

Select and model converters for DC networks.

04

Implement voltage control and power sharing strategies.

05

Design the protection and safety of DC installations.

06

Size integrated storage systems.

07

Assess the technical and economic viability of DC solutions.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Microgrid engineers.
  • DC system designers.
  • Power electronics engineers.
  • Rural electrification consultants.
  • Energy storage engineers.
  • Solar system integrators.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to move into the building sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 60364-4-41 (protection against electric shock, including DC)
  • IEC TS 62735-1 (DC distribution up to 1500 V in ICT centres)
  • IEC 61660-1 (short-circuit currents in DC installations)
  • IEEE 2030.7 (specification of microgrid controllers)
  • IEEE 2030.8 (testing of microgrid controllers)
  • Royal Decree 842/2002 (Spanish low-voltage electrotechnical regulations)
  • IEC 62933 (electrical energy storage systems)
  • ETSI EN 300 132-3 (power supply of ICT equipment up to 400 V DC)
  • PLECS
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • HOMER Pro
  • PSIM
  • Python (Pyomo)
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1History: the war of the currents
  2. 1.2Advantages of DC distribution
  3. 1.3Native DC loads in buildings
  4. 1.4DC sources: photovoltaics and batteries
  5. 1.5LVDC and MVDC voltage levels
  6. 1.6Applications in buildings, ships and data centres
  7. 1.7State of standardisation
  8. 1.8Reference projects
  9. 1.9Barriers to adoption
  10. 1.10Case study: DC loads in an office building
  1. 2.1Definitions: nanogrid and microgrid
  2. 2.2AC, DC and hybrid architectures
  3. 2.3Autonomous domestic nanogrids
  4. 2.4Solar home systems
  5. 2.5Microgrids in isolated communities
  6. 2.6Campus microgrids
  7. 2.7Grid-connected and islanded modes
  8. 2.8Classification according to IEEE 2030.7
  9. 2.9International microgrid cases
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: sizing a domestic solar nanogrid
  1. 3.1Buck and boost DC-DC converters
  2. 3.2Bidirectional battery converters
  3. 3.3Isolated dual active bridge converters
  4. 3.4Active AC-DC converters
  5. 3.5MPPT photovoltaic interfaces
  6. 3.6Battery chargers
  7. 3.7Efficiency and power density
  8. 3.8Wide-bandgap semiconductors
  9. 3.9Stability with constant power loads
  10. 3.10Laboratory: simulation of a bidirectional converter in PLECS
  1. 4.1Voltage droop control
  2. 4.2Primary, secondary and tertiary hierarchical control
  3. 4.3DC bus signalling
  4. 4.4Power sharing between sources
  5. 4.5Stability of DC networks
  6. 4.6Negative impedance of loads
  7. 4.7Centralised and distributed control
  8. 4.8Battery management
  9. 4.9Control communications
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: droop control in a DC network with three sources
  1. 5.1Lithium-ion batteries
  2. 5.2Battery management systems
  3. 5.3Supercapacitors for power peaks
  4. 5.4Storage sizing
  5. 5.5Direct integration into the DC bus
  6. 5.6Battery safety
  7. 5.7Service life and degradation
  8. 5.8Second-life batteries
  9. 5.9Storage costs
  10. 5.10Laboratory: battery and BMS model in Simulink
  1. 6.1Faults in DC systems
  2. 6.2Electric arcs in direct current
  3. 6.3DC circuit breakers and fuses
  4. 6.4Solid-state circuit breakers
  5. 6.5DC earthing schemes
  6. 6.6Protection of people
  7. 6.7Insulation fault detection
  8. 6.8Protection coordination
  9. 6.9Safety regulations
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: protection of a 380 V DC installation
  1. 7.1Nearly zero-energy buildings
  2. 7.2LED lighting on DC
  3. 7.3HVAC with DC motors
  4. 7.4DC electric vehicle charging
  5. 7.5Direct DC photovoltaic integration
  6. 7.6EMerge Alliance and Current/OS standards
  7. 7.7Wiring and containment
  8. 7.8Real energy savings
  9. 7.9Experiences in pilot buildings
  10. 7.10Case study: DC network for a commercial building
  1. 8.1380 V DC data centres
  2. 8.2Ships with DC distribution
  3. 8.3Railways and trams
  4. 8.4Factories with DC bus drives
  5. 8.548 V telecommunications
  6. 8.6Agriculture and solar pumping
  7. 8.7Charging stations with a DC bus
  8. 8.8Electric and hybrid aviation
  9. 8.9Defence and critical applications: regulatory approach
  10. 8.10Workshop: AC versus DC efficiency in data centres
  1. 9.1Energy access worldwide
  2. 9.2Solar home systems
  3. 9.3Pay-as-you-go nanogrids
  4. 9.4Rural community microgrids
  5. 9.5Business models
  6. 9.6Sizing with HOMER
  7. 9.7Demand management
  8. 9.8Sustainability and maintenance
  9. 9.9International energy access programmes
  10. 9.10Case study: designing a microgrid for an isolated village
  1. 10.1Energy management systems
  2. 10.2Dispatch optimisation
  3. 10.3Generation and demand forecasting
  4. 10.4Model predictive control of microgrids
  5. 10.5Local markets and peer-to-peer trading
  6. 10.6Integration with the main grid
  7. 10.7IoT control communications
  8. 10.8Cybersecurity of the energy manager
  9. 10.9Monitoring platforms
  10. 10.10Laboratory: microgrid energy manager in Python
  1. 11.1IEC standards for LVDC
  2. 11.2Low-voltage regulations and DC
  3. 11.3Equipment certification
  4. 11.4Life-cycle cost analysis
  5. 11.5Economic viability of DC networks
  6. 11.6Business models
  7. 11.7Project management
  8. 11.8Commissioning
  9. 11.9Operation and maintenance
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: economic analysis of a community DC nanogrid
  1. 12.1Definition of the application
  2. 12.2DC network architecture
  3. 12.3Converter selection and modelling
  4. 12.4Control strategy
  5. 12.5Protection and safety
  6. 12.6Energy management system
  7. 12.7Technical and economic assessment of the solution
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, HOMER Pro, PSIM and Python (Pyomo), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Work is based on real procedures for DC-DC converter simulation, sizing of islanded microgrids and droop control tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: IEC 60364-4-41, IEC TS 62735-1, IEC 61660-1, IEEE 2030.7, IEEE 2030.8, Royal Decree 842/2002, IEC 62933, ETSI EN 300 132-3.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 60364-4-41, IEC TS 62735-1 and IEC 61660-1 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, HOMER Pro, PSIM and Python (Pyomo), in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete DC network solution, from architecture and converter modelling to control, protection, energy management and technical-economic assessment, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Size the nanogrid
Size a DC nanogrid or microgrid for the chosen application using HOMER.
Model the converters
Simulate a bidirectional converter in PLECS and a battery with BMS in Simulink.
Control the DC bus
Implement droop control for power sharing between several sources.
Protect and manage
Design the DC protection scheme and a Python energy manager.
Master's Thesis
Present the complete DC network solution with its technical-economic assessment, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Microgrid engineerDC system designerPower electronics engineerRural electrification consultantEnergy storage engineerSolar system integrator
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with PLECS, MATLAB/Simulink, HOMER Pro, PSIM and Python (Pyomo), using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software, and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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