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Looking to improve your skills, save money by reducing business energy consumption or make your business more sustainable. Online courses have made it faster, cheaper and easier than ever before to pick up new knowledge and skills. For time-pressed leaders, who don’t want to commit to intensive studies, these large participation online courses are becoming more and more popular. There are hundreds of courses available and many of them are free to sign up for. Most can be completed in your own time and in short sittings in the evenings or weekends. With the new school year just around the corner, now is the perfect time to invest in yourself and your business by picking up new energy management skills.

Level 1: Certificate in Energy Management Essentials from Energy Institute

This is a broad introductory qualification, providing a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of commercial energy management from a respected international accreditation body. Although the 50-hour online course is more expensive than other on this list, the content is more directly relevant to UK energy managers. The course provides participants with essential knowledge and skills to save energy, reduce operational costs and carbon emissions, comply with legislation and meet environmental challenges. It is perfect for people looking to start their career in energy management and people who have just taken on new responsibilities for energy management. It is also aimed at people who are looking to conduct energy audits or refresh their knowledge before pursuing higher-tier training courses. Course fee: £1,550+VAT (£1,375+VAT for Energy Institute members). Course starts: At any time. Learn more here.

Energy Decisions, Markets, and Policies from MIT Open Courseware

Delivered as part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Open Courseware scheme, this course is delivered with a scientific rigour not matched in other massive online courses. The course is a core subject in MIT’s undergraduate Energy Studies Minor and dips into science, technology and social sciences and associated environmental challenges. With high-quality video lectures, lecture notes and assignments - which can all be completed in your own time – the course examines choices and constraints around energy in households, firms, and governments. Course fee: Free Course starts: At any time. Learn more here.

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies from TU Delft Open & Online Education

If you are considering the potential for PV (solar) technology in your business, then this free online programme could be for you. You will learn about the technology behind solar cells and efficient and flexible advancements in photovoltaic modules. You will gain in-depth knowledge about the main crystalline silicon-based solar cells, plus other up and coming technologies like CdTe, CIGS and Perovskites. The course will take up a fair amount of time, with an estimated effort of 10-11 hours per week over 11 weeks. But if you want to invest in smart self-generation technology then it could make all the difference to the future of your business. Course fee: Free Course starts: 05 September 2017. Learn more here.

Renewable Energies for Sustainable Development Online from Gaia Education

Looking to bolster your businesses’ sustainability credentials, this course from Gaia Education might be for you. Gaia Education is a UK-based leading provider of sustainability education to promote thriving communicates. This online programme will give a comprehensive overview of renewable energy as a means to enable sustainable development at a global scale. It presents renewable energies as an environmental necessity, but also an economic opportunity for businesses, local authority planners, and policymakers. This course would be great for big business sustainability development officers, but also entrepreneurs and other private-sector players who want to assess opportunities in the sustainability sector. Course fee: £350. Course starts: 06 September 2017. Learn more here.