11 July – 23 August 2023
5.45pm - 10.00pm AEST

Supporting informed decision‑making throughout the Indian Ocean.

Nomination deadline is Friday 30 June 2023 (Midnight AEST).

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this course is open to government officials from IORA Member States only: Bangladesh, the Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

To nominate for this course, first read 'The Application Process' below and then complete the nomination form here or Register online on the top right of the page.

Course Convener: Dr Igor Skryabin

Climate change is the most significant environmental, social and economic challenge of our time. Across the Indian Ocean region, communities are increasingly challenged by the diverse and multiple physical impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones, droughts, floods and storm surges, ambient heat waves, warming sea temperatures, and ocean acidification.

By mid-century, the world must undergo a profound transition of its energy systems away from fossil fuels and towards a zero-carbon energy future to mitigate climate change. To support decision-makers across our region, ICEDS has developed the Grid Integration of Renewable Energy short course for professionals. The course provides participants with an understanding of the key policy, technological, and economic approaches supporting the transition to a zero-emissions energy system, and how the simultaneous drivers of energy access, energy security and energy productivity will shape the transition.

As a participant in this course, you will receive energy transition knowledge and skills, particularly relating to energy technologies, economics, policies and societal transitions. This course is interactive with a mix of lectures and group discussions, providing participants with learning opportunities from leading Australia-based academics and industry experts.

On completion of the course, you will have developed a deeper understanding of energy transition. You will also acquire knowledge of how both technology and policy can shape the integration of renewable energy into the grid and enable economy‑wide decarbonisation through the electrification of all energy uses.

Module Topics

• Motivation for Energy Transition and Outlook
• Renewable Generation
• Renewable Energy Policy Frameworks
• Assignment Tutorial, and Energy Security
• Energy Security
• Energy Storage
• Distributed Energy Resources and Microgrids
• Electricity Market Mechanisms and Energy Economics
• Operations of Electricity Grids
• Industry Workforce Planning and Transitions
• The Social Transition
• International Renewable Energy Systems
• Trade, Investment and Green Industrial Policy

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, it is expected that participants who successfully completed all tasks will have:

• An understanding of the key technologies that will enable a transition to a zero-emissions energy system.
• Engaged with the key technological issues that underpin the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
• Considered the market, regulatory and policy frameworks that underpin the operation and facilitate the transition of the energy sector.
• An appreciation of the socio-economic issues that will need to be addressed in the energy transition.
• An understanding of the barriers, challenges and opportunities presented by international renewable energy trade.
• Created an Implementation Plan.

Assignment: Implementation Plan

Participants will be assisted during the course to develop an Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan will identify how the learnings from the course could/should be implemented in the participant’s current or future workplace, broader organisation and/or their country. The Implementation Plans will be completed by participants in the final phase of the course and submitted for review and feedback.

Workloads and Completion Requirements

This course will be online and delivered over 3 phases:

• Pre-Course Seminar (11 July 2023, 5.45pm-9.30pm AEST)
• Main Course (17 July - 20 July 2023, 5.45pm - 10.00pm AEST each day)
• Post-Course Seminar (23 August 2023, 5.45pm - 9.45pm AEST).

Each session will include:

• Pre-reading materials
• Questions on notice
• Lectures (which may include multiple presenters and guest speakers)
• Group discussions/Question & Answer sessions
• Feedback surveys.

To qualify for a Certificate of Completion from the course, participants must (as a minimum):

• Attend at least 50% of the online sessions (at least 6 out of 12) – recordings will be available for those that are missed.
• Complete and submit the assignment by the due date, prior to the Post-Course Seminar.
• Submit at least two online posts (questions or comments) to the course’s online discussion board.

Pre-Requisites for this Course

To nominate for this course, you must be a government official from an IORA Member State (listed at the top of this page).

The course will be taught in English, and participants must have good English language proficiency (written and spoken).

Participants must also hold a professional mid-level or senior-level government position in policy, practice, research or reform. Participants must also have completed secondary schooling and at least three years of tertiary education, have at least 3-5 years of work experience at mid to senior levels, and have a reasonably good base-level understanding of the subject matter.

As participation in this course is likely to intersect with and impact on your work duties, all nominations for this course must include a signed Letter of Support. See 'The Application Process' below for more information about this.

Who Should Apply

We encourage professionals working in an IORA Member State government on issues related to climate change and energy transition to nominate for this course.

The Application Process

To nominate for this course, you will need to complete the online nomination form. The form includes questions relating to your demographics, country, language proficiency, current and previous relevant work experience, and reasons for applying for this course.

The nomination form must be fully completed and submitted by the closing deadline if you wish to be considered for this short course. 

To complete the nomination form, you will need to upload 3-4 files (max. file size = 100MB each). These files are a mandatory part of the nomination process. They are:

1. Evidence of your English language proficiency (if English is not your first or primary language) - this must be one of the following:
   • IELTS test score (dated within the past 10 years),
   • TOEFL test score (dated within the past 10 years), OR
   • a recent sample of your formal writing (dated within the past 10 years, (e.g.) academic paper, policy brief, business plan, etc.) with the sample clearly showing you as the primary author.
2. A formal Letter of Support demonstrating your organisation's support for your nomination.
3. An updated curriculum vitae or resume.

Letter of Support

You must attach a Letter of Support (on official letterhead) from your employer and signed by a supervisor, stating that they support your nomination for this course. We recommend that you use the sample letter here: Sample Letter of Support (DOC, 22 KB).

Please Note: Your Letter of Support should reflect a clear understanding of the time commitment for course participation (i.e. 24.5 contact hours online, at least 5 hours of pre-session reading, and at least 7 hours to complete the assignment). The Letter of Support is mandatory, and nominations without an official and signed letter will be marked as incomplete.

All complete and valid nominations will be reviewed, and successful applicants will be informed via email approximately 1 week before the course commences.