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  • Offer Profile
  • The Good Energies Chair for Management of Renewable Energies is the first of its kind at a leading European business school. It is led by Prof. Dr. Rolf Wuestenhagen.

    It was founded in 2009. Research and teaching activities are focusing on various aspects related to the promotion of renewable energies - from energy policy, to business models and investor behaviour, to marketing and consumer behaviour and beyond.

    Diploma of Advanced Studies in Renewable Energy Management:
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  • Research

  • The Good Energies Chair for Management of Renewable Energies was founded in 2009. Research and teaching activities are focusing on various aspects related to the promotion of renewable energies - from energy policy, to business models and investor behaviour, to marketing and consumer behaviour and beyond.
      • Core Area 1: Business models and investments

          • Cognitive Biases in Sustainable Energy Venture Investment

          • An increasingly important theme in management research is how corporations should address sustainable development. It is widely recognized that innovation will play a key role as corporations move toward sustainable development, and that substantial investment will be required to align important infrastructure sectors with its requirements.
          • Social dynamics of expectations and innovation

          • Expectations may have a decisive impact on the pace and direction of technology development. They guide strategic decisions of actors, they legitimise the allocation of resources, they motivate actors to engage in promising innovation fields and they serve to co-ordinate heterogeneous actor groups. Expectations and particularly socially shared expectations on innovative technologies are often subject to impressive dynamics. Typical examples are hype-disappointment cycles: expectations get widely accepted and continue to rise for a period of time, but then break down rather suddenly.
            In this project we empirically analyse and illustrate these mechanisms in the case of stationary fuel cells
          • Understanding the Value of Business Models

          • Business models and discussions about business models are deeply anchored in practice and day-to-day business. Latterly, this echoes in publications within top-ranked scientific journals (e.g. within SMJ, OS, a forthcoming special issue in LRP). Those publications witness the importance and practical relevance research on business models actually has. Business models assess the logic of how firms interwove strategy and operations for economic value creation.
        • Core Area 2: Energy policy

                • IEA: Effectiveness of Renewable Energy Policies
                   

                • The project at hand is undertaken by the Institute for Economy and the Environment (IWOe) of the University of St. Gallen on behalf of the International Energy Agency (IEA). This analysis forms part of a larger ongoing IEA project, the Global Renewable Energy Markets and Policies Program (GREMPP). The GREMPP focuses on gathering and analyzing data on policy and market conditions development that drive the diffusion of renewable energy technologies (RETs). The objective of this research program is to increase understanding on policy conditions under which renewable energy technologies can achieve full competitiveness with conventional technologies.
                  • Promotion and Consolidation of RTD activities for renewable distributed generation technologies in the Mediterranean

                  • (EU Project DISTRES)
                    The overall goal of the DISTRES co-ordination action project is to exchange and disseminate good practice developed in the field of renewable energy sources distributed generation (RES-DG) technologies by isolated research activities and perform studies and/or analyses for the Mediterranean needs. DISTRES is a three year co-ordination action project. Since solar potential is an abundant commodity in the Mediterranean region the area of interest of DISTRES will be primarily on the electricity produced from solar energy (photovoltaic and/or solar thermal concentrating systems) from DG systems. DISTRES specific scientific and technological objectives may be summarised as (a) to co-ordinate RTD projects in RES-DG technologies, (b) to promote the electricity generation from solar energy, photovoltaic (PV) systems and solar thermal systems, paving the way for pilot systems and products, (c) to produce capacity building methodologies and (d) to disseminate the results as widely as possible in the Mediterranean countries and in the EU. DISTRES work program is organised into five integrated work-packages (WP).
              • Core Area 3: Marketing and consumer behavior

                  • Barriers for energy changes among households

                  • The main objective of this project is to develop methods to identify the relevance and strengths of various barriers for energy behaviour changes among end consuers and households, and to discuss how activities from political authorities, energy producers and NGOs can overcome these barriers. We will address changes in consumer behaviour along two dimensions. The first is energy saving and improvement of energy efficiency within households, the second is changes toward more sustainable and renewable energy technologies. We are also concerned about the relationship between these three strategies; turn down and switch off, the purchase of energy-efficient appliances, and shift to (more) sustainable energy carriers.
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                  • Bodensee-Alpenrhein Energieregion (BAER)

                  • Green Power- Target Specific Communications Strategies

                • Diploma of Advanced Studies in Renewable Energy Management (REM-HSG)

                • A state-of-the-art management training for success in the energy markets of the future.

                  What does the programme offer you?
                  The main goal of the executive education programme REM-HSG is to help tomorrow’s leaders to turn the economic, environmental and social challenges of today’s energy supply into new business opportunities.
                  As a participant, you will build up expertise about the potential of one of the most attractive growth markets, and identify ways for you and your company to succeed in the new energy industry.

                  Participants
                  The programme is especially designed for:

                  • Managers and entrepreneurs in the field of renewable energies
                  • Management in energy technology and engineering companies
                  • Energy portfolio managers in electric utilities, oil and gas companies
                  • Investors in the renewable energy market
                  • Business development managers in energy-related industries (IT, automotive, buildings, retail etc.)
                  • Representatives of energy agencies or non-governmental organizations who would like to leverage their impact by gaining a deeper understanding of business perspectives on renewable energy
                  • Founders of new firms in the area of renewable energies

                  Degree:
                  Diploma of Advanced Studies

                    • Structure

                    • The REM-HSG consists of 8 modules, each of which lasts one week. This means that the programme can be easily attended alongside your job.
                        • Module 1: Markets and competitive environment for renewable energies

                        • The first module starts with getting to know each other, and an overview of the whole programme is provided. You will learn about the market and competitive dynamics for renewable energies and you will discuss related opportunities and risks.

                          Objectives

                          • Which overall topics (like climate change, technological innovation and the security of energy supply) influence the management of renewable energies?
                          • Which market dynamics exist and what drives them?
                          • What future developments can be expected?
                          • Which are key drivers of competition and how can companies deal with them?
                          • What are the latest technology and market trends in the field of renewable energies and what are the implications for business opportunities and risks?
                        • Module 2: Marketing for renewable energy

                        • The second module takes a customer value perspective on renewable energies and starts with an introduction of key marketing techniques. You will explore and discuss important avenues for profitable growth. Aspects that are covered in Module 2 are market segmentation, identifying target groups, positioning, and processes like customer acquisition and customer retention.

                          Objectives

                          • How can companies tap into the new market potential related to renewable energies?
                          • What customer segments exist and how do successful companies position themselves?
                          • What are the core tasks in marketing?
                          • How can customer value be integrated into corporate processes?
                          • What are the opportunities
                        • Module 3: Business models and commercialization

                        • The third module looks at renewable energy from a business model perspective. You will learn how important it is to give your customers a clear value proposition, and investigate alternative value propositions for renewable energy products and services. You will explore which resources and capabilities are needed to deliver such a value proposition. By investigating innovative revenue models, you will discover new avenues to profitability.

                          Objectives

                          • What makes a business model successful and how can it be commercialized?
                          • What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks of your business model?
                          • What sales channels exist in the field of renewable energy?
                            What types of opportunities and risks do they create?
                            How can different sales channels be orchestrated?
                          • How can new business models be developed which create measurable customer value?
                        • Module 4: Bits to energy: digital innovation for a smarter energy future

                        • The digital revolution has fundamentally changed the way we communicate and manage information. New information and communication technologies (ICT) can be a key driver for increasing energy efficiency and managing distributed renewable energy resources. But as in the early days of the internet, the challenge for managers is to separate technological fads from profitable business opportunities.
                          Module 4 will build on key insights from successful technology and innovation management to enable
                          participants to ride the wave of smart grid innovation.

                          Objectives

                          • Which opportunities arise from the convergence of information & communication technologies and energy innovation?
                          • What are the new risks and challenges (e.g. data security)?
                          • How can the electric car be profitably integrated in renewable energy business models?
                          • Smart grids – what’s in it for the consumer?
                          • What are the benchmarks and which trends can be identified?
                        • Module 5: Energy economics, portfolio management and finance

                        • In Module 5 you will understand the basic principles of energy economics and how they influence the management of renewable energies. Another key topic within Module 5 is energy finance and portfolio management. You will understand key drivers for risk and return of renewable energy portfolios.

                          Objectives

                          • What are the basic principles of energy markets and how do they affect the management of renewable energies?
                          • What are key risk drivers for renewable energy portfolios?
                          • How does an increasing share of renewable energy sources influence generation, trading and distribution in the power industry?
                          • What are the basic principles and best practices in financing renewable energies?
                          • What are recent trends in the field of venture capital for renewable energies?
                        • Module 6: Strategic management skills
                          for renewable energies

                        • Successful mangers use state-of-the-art tools to manage their companies and to design and implement competitive strategies. In Module 6 you will learn about best practices and you will work out concepts for strategic management. Furthermore, you will learn how to put your strategic initiatives
                          into practice.

                          Objectives

                          • What are the important aspects which define the competitive environment for renewable energies?
                          • How do competitive strategies for renewable energy companies differ between incumbent energy firms and new entrants?
                          • How can strategic initiatives be put into practice and implemented in day-to-day business?
                          • What benchmarks exist in the field of renewable energies and how can companies learn from them?
                        • Module 7: Managing regulatory risk and opportunity *

                        • Energy policy has a significant influence on the diffusion of renewable energies and has to be considered when designing corporate strategies. An important element of the renewable energy manager’s skill set therefore is to understand and manage regulatory risk. In Module 7, you will get first-hand insights from policy makers in one of the leading growth markets for renewable energy, Germany, about what drives the policy process and how the future policy agenda will influence renewable energy markets.

                          Objectives

                          • What are the key objectives of European energy and climate policies, and how are they implemented?
                          • How can internationalization strategies allow companies to hedge regulatory risk and opportunity?
                          • What can be learned from impacts of past policy changes in key markets?
                          • What are the implications of carbon market risk for renewable energy projects?

                          * Module 7 will be held in Berlin, Germany.

                        • Module 8: International project management and future scenarios

                        • Module 8 will be held in an emerging growth market for renewable energy. With the help of a real project, you learn how to deal with the high requirements of renewable energy projects as a team. At the same time, you will explore the important role of inter-cultural competence for renewable energy. Along with aspects of renewable energy project management, we will discuss future scenarios for renewable energies, the realization of which will greatly benefit from international co-operation.

                          Objectives

                          • What are the success factors for planning and managing an international renewable energy project?
                          • What intercultural challenges have to be met within international renewable energy projects?
                          • Which future scenarios can be imagined for the diffusion and utilization of renewable energies and how can these scenarios be realized?
                      • Further information

                          • Your host: the Good Energies Chair for Management of Renewable Energies

                          • In April 2009 the University of St. Gallen established the Good Energies Chair for Management of Renewable Energies. As the first of its kind at a leading European business school, the Good Energies Chair for Management of Renewable Energies is part of the institute for economy and the environment (IWOE-HSG).
                            Top-level international research and teaching on renewable energy management with that has been added to the core competencies of the University of St. Gallen. The diploma of advanced studies REM-HSG completes the activities of the Good Energies Chair and is closely linked to its activities.
                          • Development of a personal management challenge

                          • An important building block of the REM-HSG programme is the development of a personal management challenge for each participant in the field of renewable energies. The management challenge is not only the subject of the application procedure, but it can also be brought into the individual modules. For example, company specific situations, entrance into new markets, developing new strategies or marketing activities for renewable energies, etc.
                          • The REM-HSG network and the annual St. Gallen Forum for Management of Renewable Energies – a strong alliance

                          • All participants in the REM-HSG will get exclusiveaccess to the renewable energy network. This exclusive network connects managers in the field of renewable energy and offers various possibilities for networking, exchange of experiences, and initiation of further co-operation. Network members will have the opportunity to meet at REM-HSG alumni meetings on a regular basis.