Specialist Designation

Chartered Energy Economist® (Ch.EE®)

An intensive specialist qualification in energy economics, management, and policy - addressing energy challenges at scales from individual buildings to national and international energy systems, and preparing candidates for careers in the fast-evolving global energy sector.

$38T

Estimated global energy infrastructure investment needed over the next 25 years

40%+

Projected rise in global energy demand over the next 25 years

151+

Countries where the AAFM® charter is recognised

Specialist curriculum modules in energy economics

About the Programme

The Chartered Energy Economist® (Ch.EE®) provides intensive training in energy economics, management, and policy - addressing issues from micro-grid level to national and international energy systems. The programme integrates civic engagement and experiential learning, applying knowledge to real-world energy projects through problem-oriented instruction and team-based work.

Why Ch.EE®? The Ch.EE® signals to employers that you have the skills to solve 21st-century energy challenges. These skills are in strong demand by government agencies, environmental organisations, and the private sector globally.

Energy Industry Overview

The energy sector is central to the world economy. Fossil fuels account for over 80 per cent of global primary energy supply - a share that will shift but not disappear quickly even as renewables grow. Global energy demand is projected to rise by 40 per cent over the next 25 years, requiring up to US$38 trillion in new infrastructure investment.

This investment will unfold amid record uncertainty:

Energy market deregulation in mature economies
Climate policy and carbon pricing adding volatility to already uncertain energy prices
Geopolitical tensions as energy flows shift from West to East
Ageing power facilities being retired while emerging markets demand new capacity

The Ch.EE® prepares candidates to navigate these forces and make informed decisions during the global energy transition.

Programme Objectives

The Ch.EE® provides a grounding in energy resources, technology, and economic realities - enabling candidates to interpret the political and commercial implications of current developments. It is designed for both:

Economics and policy professionals who need a rigorous energy specialisation
Engineers and technical specialists who need a broader economic and policy perspective

Graduates are prepared for careers in energy policy, firm management, energy marketing, energy consulting, and renewable energy management.

What Do Energy Economists Do?

An energy economist conducts interdisciplinary research on the supply and use of energy, spanning economics, climate change, geopolitics, and sustainability. Governments employ energy economists to formulate policy; the private sector uses them to evaluate investment and risk.

Depending on their focus, an energy economist may work on traditional fossil fuels, renewable energy, or the full energy mix - studying demand patterns, cross-border energy flows, and the environmental and financial costs of energy production.

Receive information from all relevant sources and analyse it
Compile and analyse data to explain economic phenomena and calculate market trends
Undertake research on energy economic issues and circulate findings through technical reports
Consult and assist companies, organisations, and individuals on energy economics
Provide litigation support by documenting expert testimony where required
Develop economic guidelines and standards and suggest positions for formulating energy policy
Contribute to strategic discussions and market-access planning in the energy sector

Key Benefits

The programme covers energy demand and supply, the Hotelling model, oil price behaviour, the role of OPEC, global warming, and renewables - developing key micro and macroeconomic modelling skills alongside financial analysis applied to the energy sector. Specific benefits include:

Understanding of current energy economic issues and economic principles, including real-world micro and macroeconomic applications
Economic perspective on the nature, scale, and organisation of energy businesses
Deepened knowledge in areas such as labour economics, economics of financial markets, and economics of emerging energy markets
Application of utility theory to investment decisions under risk aversion
Understanding of how the allocation of resources across time and geography improves organisational financial health
Super Specialist Status in "Energy Economics" - the knowledge and skill to perform duties as a professional Energy Economist
A professional designation and post-nominal for use on your CV, business card, letterhead, and email signature
Access to one of the top economic and financial professional networks around the globe, with charterholders and members throughout the world
The Ch.EE® is awarded by AAFM® and is fully recognised in the USA and more than 170 countries worldwide

Who Should Attend

Designed for energy professionals, policy analysts, and those seeking to move into the sector, including:

Economic Researchers and Macroeconomic Policy Analysts
Investors and Management Consultants
Policy Makers and Government Officials
Professionals in Energy Technology and Renewable Energy
Professionals in Consultancy and Engineering
Professionals in Real Estate, City Development Agencies, and Municipalities
Professionals in Utility or Automotive Companies
Researchers and Academics

Educational Requirements

Graduates (any stream): Pass Level 1 - Chartered Economist® Examination.
Postgraduates in Economics: Pursue the Chartered Energy Economist® designation directly.

Career Opportunities

The Ch.EE® opens doors across government agencies, energy regulators, environmental organisations, and the private sector. Positions include:

Analyst for a Department of Energy
Policy and Evaluation Analyst for a National Energy Grid
Energy Industry Analyst for an Energy Regulatory Commission
Energy Advisor for Non-governmental Organisations
Energy Specialist for Departments of Renewable Energy
Programme Support Specialist for Bureaus of Energy Management
Residential Energy Specialist for Community Associations

Skills Required

Key skills and proficiencies of a Chartered Energy Economist include:

Analytical Skills: Reviewing data in detail, observing patterns, performing advanced calculations, and drawing logical conclusions.
Critical-Thinking Skills: Using logic and reasoning to solve complex problems and identify how energy trends may affect organisations and policy.
Communication Skills: Presenting findings clearly to clients and stakeholders who may not have an economics or technical background.
Writing Skills: Preparing clear reports, publications, and policy documents for colleagues, clients, and news media.
Mathematical Knowledge: Algebra, geometry, statistics, calculus, and their applications in energy modelling and analysis.
Ability to undertake research effectively and identify practical problems
Experience managing and organising energy industry data and project work
Knowledge of relevant laws, government regulations, and court procedures affecting the energy sector

Salary Prospects

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, economists earn a median annual salary of $101,050. The middle 50% earn between $73,890 and $138,120; senior specialist and management roles in the energy sector frequently exceed these benchmarks. Certified energy economists with the Ch.EE® designation can earn up to 27% more than non-certified peers.

Programme Curriculum

Curriculum of the Chartered Energy Economist®

The curriculum provides in-depth study of energy economics based on the core concepts of energy demand, energy demand forecasting, and the economics of the energy industry. It explores the moral and individual dimensions of energy economics and the ethical responsibilities of a Chartered Energy Economist.

An understanding of the concepts of energy economics is of prime importance for any Chartered Energy Economist. This module provides a basic grounding in the multi-dimensions of energy interactions, energy basics, and the energy system.

Candidates will become familiar with the energy information and energy accounting framework. The objective is to enable a Chartered Energy Economist to understand the accounting of traditional energies, special treatment for the energy balance, analysis of energy balance information, and presentation of energy accounting information.

Understanding energy demand analysis and energy demand decisions is central to the Ch.EE® programme. This module covers the economic foundations of energy demand, alternative approaches for energy demand analysis, and energy demand analysis using econometric methods.

Candidates will study the disaggregation of demand and sectoral energy accounting and analysis at the sectoral level. The module covers energy demand forecasting, energy demand management, energy load management, energy efficiency improvements, and energy conservation.

Know-how of energy supply is central to energy economics. This module covers fossil fuel supply, field development, oil production, the economics of fossil fuel production, resource rent, and supply forecasting.

The module builds the foundation of non-renewable resource supply, with a focus on the depletion dimension and simple models of extraction of exhaustible resources.

This module examines the economics of electricity supply, covering basic concepts of electric systems, alternative options for electricity generation, economic dispatch, and unit commitment.

Candidates will study investment decisions in the power sector and electricity resource planning. The module places particular emphasis on alternative and renewable energy for electricity generation, the drivers of renewable energy growth, the economics of renewable energy supply, and the economics of biofuels.

Understanding the energy market, energy pricing, and energy taxation is essential for a Chartered Energy Economist. This module covers the basic competitive energy market, extensions of the basic model, government intervention, and the role of government in the energy sector.

Candidates will study the basic energy pricing model, the tradability of energy products, and opportunity cost. The module covers peak and off-peak pricing, energy taxes and subsidies, and the implications of traditional energies and the informal sector in developing economies for energy pricing.

This module provides a thorough grounding in the international oil market. Candidates study developments in the global oil industry, the historical evolution of oil pricing and market structures, and the analytical tools needed to interpret changes in the oil market - including the role of OPEC, geopolitical influences, and the emergence of unconventional oil production.

This module examines the natural gas market and the characteristic features of natural gas as an energy commodity. Candidates study the status of the natural gas market, the economics of gas transportation, gas pricing, and the natural gas markets of developing countries.

The module also covers the coal market, including changes and technological advances in coal extraction and use, and the long-term future of coal in a transitioning energy mix.

The final module examines the evolution of energy systems and alternative modelling approaches to energy-economy interactions. Candidates study global energy challenges and the grand energy transitions underway - including the shift towards renewables, decarbonisation commitments, and the diverging energy trajectories of resource-rich and resource-poor nations.

The module equips Chartered Energy Economists to analyse complex energy systems holistically and to contribute meaningfully to the policy and investment decisions that will shape the global energy landscape in the decades ahead.

Programme Fees

Fee Structure - Chartered Energy Economist®

All fees are payable to AAFM India. GST is applicable on resident student fees at the prevailing rate.

Head	Resident Student	Overseas Student
Registration Fee	Rs. 40,000 + GST	USD 1,000
Registration Renewal	Rs. 10,000 + GST	USD 100
Examination Fee - Chartered Economist®	Rs. 5,000 + GST	USD 100
Examination Fee - Chartered Energy Economist®	Rs. 10,000 + GST	USD 100

Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions

The Ch.EE® is a specialist designation awarded by AAFM® USA, recognised in 151+ countries. It certifies expertise in energy economics, management, and policy - covering everything from energy demand forecasting and market pricing to the economics of renewables, oil markets, and global energy transitions. The designation is issued directly by AAFM® USA and serves as Super Specialist Status in Energy Economics.

Graduates of any stream must first pass the Level 1 Chartered Economist® (Ch.E®) examination, then sit the specialist Ch.EE® exam. Postgraduates in Economics may pursue the Ch.EE® directly. The programme suits economists, engineers, policy analysts, researchers, and professionals in energy or environmental sectors who want a recognised specialist credential.

Registration is Rs. 29,000 + GST for resident students (USD 1,000 for overseas students). The Level 1 Chartered Economist® exam fee is Rs. 3,000 + GST, and the specialist Ch.EE® examination fee is Rs. 10,000 + GST. All fees are payable to AAFM India; GST applies at the prevailing rate for resident students.

The Ch.EE® is fully online and self-paced, with a typical completion time of approximately six months. The specialist exam is conducted monthly (10th-20th) at over 5,000 Pearson VUE centres worldwide. The exam consists of 55 questions over 115 minutes, with a 50% pass mark and no negative marking.

Ch.EE® holders work as energy analysts for government departments and energy regulatory commissions, policy and evaluation analysts for national energy grids, renewable energy specialists, energy advisors for NGOs, and programme support specialists for bureaus of energy management. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records a median annual salary of $101,050 for economists, with senior energy roles earning substantially more.

The eight-module curriculum covers Energy Economics and Energy Balance, Energy Demand Forecasting and Management, Energy Supply and Non-renewable Resource Economics, Economics of Electric Supply (including renewables), Energy Market Pricing and Taxation, the International Oil Market, Markets for Natural Gas and Coal, and Analysis of Energy Systems and Global Energy Challenges. Together these modules equip candidates to analyse the full energy value chain and contribute to policy and investment decisions in the energy transition.

Take the Next Step

Begin your journey as a Chartered Energy Economist®

Speak to a programme advisor and receive the curriculum, fee schedule, and a personalised career roadmap - within one working day.

Request Information View All Designations