Germany: Leading the Renewables Revolution

Explore Germany, a world leader in the transformation to sustainable energy systems and the inventor of the vision of cities and regions powered 100% by renewable energy. Germany’s renewable energy system emerged through collaboration across political, business, and nonprofit sectors based in science. Recent changes in national and state government political leadership and the effects of the war in Ukraine are accelerating the energy transformation. Spend time in 3 cities known for sustainability: Düsseldorf, Saerbeck, and Münster. These cities have excelled in advancing renewable energy storage, combined heat and power, solar and wind power, and the electrification of transportation in truly revolutionary ways.

Relish the unique opportunity to experience the political, social, and technological drivers behind renewable energy development. You will meet with Germany's top politicians, government officials, researchers, and educators, along with German university students, and learn how they advocate for and manage change.

For more specific information about this program, visit the Institute on the Environment website.

Stay in hostels in Düsseldorf and Münster. Quite a few dinners will be provided, but you should plan to purchase most lunches. In total, plan to purchase 13 meals on your own.

Deadline: October 1, 2026

Travel Abroad: January 5–17, 2027

Earn 3 credits for CFAN 3532 (undergraduate students) or CFAN 5532 (graduate students).

Learn about renewable energy through pre-departure sessions, speakers, and excursions. If you are majoring and/or interested in sustainability and renewable energy, you will benefit from this experience. However, the program is open to learners from all disciplines. This is an embedded spring course with a study abroad immersive experience during winter break.

Liberal Education Requirements: Earn credit for Global Perspectives and Environment.

Course Schedule

Session 1: Orientation and Introduction to Energy Issues

This in-person orientation and introduction to energy issues segment features get-to-know-you activities, special guest speakers, and a provided group lunch (optional but strongly recommended)

Session 2: Energy Policy, Technology, and Projects in Minnesota and Germany

We will unpack significant energy policy measures in Germany and Minnesota. We will also understand the crucial role of states in moving forward faster on clean energy. You will learn why Minnesota matters more than you may think.

Travel Abroad: January 5–17, 2027

Paper Due: February TBD, 2027

Session 3: Formal Student Presentations

Virtual presentations of you and your classmates solutions with an audience of invited energy leaders.

Program Celebration Dinner Discussion: Renewable Energy and Climate Insights for Minnesota

Share your insights and visions for Minnesota with family and political leaders. All family members will be formally invited to attend this special dinner discussion.

Beth Mercer-Taylor, JD, is the sustainability education coordinator at the University of Minnesota, where she administers the Sustainability Studies Minor. Beth has helped to implement the GreenStep Cities program in Minnesota and many campus sustainability programs.

Sabine Engel is a program director in the Institute on the Environment and leads the Climate-Smart exchange program with Germany. Sabine has led 22 delegations to Germany of Minnesota elected officials, business, and community leaders, and is connected to a large network of influential German partners.

• daily visits to renewable energy organizations in Duesseldorf, Muenster, and Saerbeck Germany
• walking tours
• bike tours
• museum visits
• opportunity to speak with state policy leaders

For more information, email the Institute on the Environment at [email protected].

The cost of participation includes group flight airfare, in-country program related transportation, housing, some meals, entrances to course-related excursions and site visits, program administration, simultaneous interpreting, and international health insurance. The Winter Break 2026 fees are posted for an estimated breakdown.

Note: If you are registered for less than 12 credits or a UofM graduate student, you will be charged tuition for this course in addition to the program fee. Notify the Learning Abroad Center if this applies to you.

Fill out the Institute on the Environment's (IonE's) required form, which includes additional evaluation questions, to apply for a $2,500 scholarship.

Cancellation Policy for UofM Students

The information on this page overrides any verbal or written information one may have received regarding refunds.

This cancellation policy applies to the IonE “Germany: Leading the Renewables Revolution” embedded study abroad experience. This program’s cancellation policy is modeled on the cancellation policy of the UofM’s Learning Abroad Center.

Process

If you wish to cancel your participation on this program you must log into your Education Abroad account online and submit a cancel request by selecting the "Cancel Application" button on the bottom of the checklist page. The date/time stamp of this cancellation request will determine the refund eligibility according to the above policy.

Financial Obligation

The application fee and the $400 confirmation deposit are non-refundable. The Learning Abroad Center and IonE reserve space on the program for you upon receipt of the Confirmation and Payment Agreement. At this point, the Learning Abroad Center and IonE incur certain non-recoverable costs. Therefore, if you cancel at any time after the Confirmation and Payment Agreement has been received, you will be responsible and billed for the following:

*non-recoverable flight costs refer to those costs billed as part of the overall program costs.

Embedded Programs

This program is an embedded program. For programs with coursework on campus before and/or after a period spent abroad, regular UofM cancellation deadlines, penalties, and policies will apply to tuition and fees for the on-campus course. The Learning Abroad Center cancellation policies will apply to the abroad component of the course based on the start date of the period abroad. Dropping the on-campus course in Onestop does not constitute notifying the Learning Abroad Center. If you wish to cancel your participation, you must log into your Education Abroad account online and submit a cancel request.

Non-US Passport holders will need a Schengen visa. No visa is needed for US Passport holders. You will need a passport. If you do not have a passport, or your passport expires less than 6 months after your return date from your time abroad (this is a strict requirement), apply for a new passport now, and pay for expedited processing to make sure it arrives in time.

You must complete the Learning Abroad Center application (link on this page) by the application deadline in order to be considered for this program.

Fill out the Institute on the Environment's (IonE's) required form, which includes additional evaluation questions, to apply for a $2,500 scholarship.