On-Demand Self-Study Courses
Our friends at Mennta Energy Solutions offer a huge library of on-demand, self-study courses, available online at any time.
Designed to be completed in a total of about two hours, they each have five to eight short lessons, which can be tackled separately, over a two-week period. Information is conveyed by a combination of written material, video presentations and quiz questions to reinforce learning. After completing all the lessons, there is a final assessment of multiple-choice questions. Successful completion results in the award of a certificate and earns continuing professional development points under CPD, CPE, or GARP programs.
Kingston Energy Consulting have authored many of these courses over the years and we regularly update them to ensure they remain topical and factually correct. Listed below are the courses that we have most recently written or updated. Click on a course title to visit Mennta's site and subscribe to the course.
Impact of Renewables on Power Markets (IRPM) - learn about renewable energy technologies (wind and solar), how existing power market designs can struggle to accommodate their low marginal cost, variable generation, and some of the technical, policy, and market design solutions to these issues. Updated 2026.
Overview of the Renewables Industry (ORI) - wind and solar are the main focus of this course, but it also reviews the potential for renewable energy from other sources, including biomass, geothermal, and ocean energy. Updated 2026.
Power Trading in Europe (PTE) - this course provides a comprehensive overview of how electricity is traded in Europe. You'll learn about the core trading instruments – spot, forwards, and futures – and how they're used for physical supply and price hedging. We also cover balancing markets, cross-border trading, and longer-term contracts. The course explains how trading happens in practice, through brokers, exchanges, and auctions. All new version 2026.
European Power Markets and Infrastructure (EPMI) - this course provides an introduction to European power markets and infrastructure, covering how electricity is generated, transmitted and consumed across the continent. You'll learn how wholesale markets operate and how supply and demand are balanced in real time. We'll look at how Europe is adapting to a changing energy landscape. All new version 2026.
Introduction to the Biofuels Industry (BFI) - this course covers the five main groups of biofuels: what they are, how they are produced, who produces them, their profitability and incentives, and their environmental impacts. It is a useful overview not just for people who work in biofuels, but for people working in fuels and energy in general. Updated 2025.
Fundamentals of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) - this course provides an overview of the fundamentals of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): what it is, how it originated, and how it is used. You’ll learn about the key environmental, social and governance criteria, and how they are used in ESG investing and company reporting. We’ll also cover ESG metrics and benchmarks. Updated 2025.
Introduction to Global Oil Supply (GOS) - this course provides an introduction to the supply side of the global market for petroleum liquids. You’ll learn about where and how conventional and unconventional crude oil, condensate, and natural gas liquids are produced. We will review the main oil producing regions and the roles of OPEC and non-OPEC producers, and of governments, national oil companies and independent oil companies. Updated 2025.
Petroleum Refining Made Easy (PR) - this course introduces how a refinery operates. See how crude oil travels through the refinery and becomes petroleum products like gasoline, kerosene and lubricants. Learn the functions of the various units. Updated 2025.
Hedging with Futures and Options (HFO) - this course provides an overview of hedging using exchange-traded futures and options. Key terms and concepts are defined and explained in the course. Hedging strategies using futures or exchange traded options are reviewed using practical examples from several different commodity markets. Updated 2025.
Overview of Carbon Capture (OCC) - this course provides an overview of carbon capture, primarily looking at the process of carbon capture and storage (CCS), but also reviewing carbon capture and utilization (CCU). It covers the methods of capturing carbon dioxide, and then transporting and storing it. It reviews the regulatory support for carbon capture, and some key carbon capture projects. Updated 2024.
Introduction to Refinery Economics (IRE) - this course provides an overview of the economics of refining. You’ll learn how refineries make money, and what affects their profitability. We’ll review the fundamentals of refinery operations and planning, as well as optimization and blending. We’ll also cover crude oil quality and valuation. You’ll understand how refinery margins are calculated. Updated 2024.
Introduction to Hydrogen and its Role in Decarbonization (IHD) - this course provides an introduction to hydrogen in all its roles - as a chemical feedstock, a zero-emissions fuel and as a carrier and storage medium for renewable energy. You’ll learn about how hydrogen is currently used, and how its use is expected to expand through the energy transition. We will cover the extraordinary properties that make hydrogen potentially invaluable, yet also awkward an inefficient to use. Updated 2024.
Introduction to Oil Shipping (IOS) - this course provides an overview of the oil tanker market. You’ll learn about different types of tankers and the terminology used to describe a ship. We’ll cover the process of chartering a vessel, the different terms used in charter contracts and how freight rates are calculated. Finally we’ll review the impact of environmental and safety regulations on shipping. Updated 2024.
Overview of Sustainable Fuels (OSF) - this course provides an introduction to sustainable fuels, including biofuels, renewable fuels manufactured from non-biological materials, hydrogen, and its derivatives. You will learn how these fuels are made, how they can be used, and their key quality characteristics. We survey the existing and projected use of sustainable fuels in transport (road, aviation, and marine), and their role in the energy transition. NEW COURSE 2024.
Overview of Gasoline & Diesel Quality (FQO) - this course provides a basic understanding of fuels, specifically gasoline and diesel. What makes them different? What are the unique properties of each? How have the quality of the fuels changed over time and what has driven that change? These are just some of the questions that will be answered in this online course. All new version 2024.
