Bioenergy Systems Training

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the principles of bioenergy conversion technologies to assess the suitability of different biomass feedstocks.
• Analyze the environmental and socio-economic impacts of bioenergy systems using lifecycle assessment tools.
• Evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of bioenergy projects, considering local conditions and regulations.
• Design a basic bioenergy system, selecting appropriate conversion technology and feedstock supply chain.
• Implement safety and sustainability practices in bioenergy operations, adhering to South African standards.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate bioenergy concepts and project outcomes to diverse stakeholders.

Target Audience

Ideal for engineers, project managers, environmental scientists, and energy professionals seeking to expand their expertise in renewable energy technologies, as well as for those new to the field who wish to enter the bioenergy sector.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. A basic understanding of energy concepts is recommended but not required.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

The practicals provide hands-on experience in operating a small-scale biogas digester and conducting feedstock analysis. Learners will apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, developing skills in monitoring, safety, and troubleshooting.

Practical Activities

• Biogas Digester Operation — Learners will work in groups to operate a small-scale biogas digester, including feeding, monitoring gas production, and collecting data. (4h)
• Feedstock Analysis and Characterisation — Learners will analyse different biomass feedstocks for moisture content, volatile solids, and calorific value, and assess their suitability for bioenergy conversion. (2h)
• System Performance Evaluation — Learners will evaluate the performance of a bioenergy system by calculating efficiency and energy output from given data, and propose improvements. (2h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	40% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.