Energy supply, economics and transition
ENG-410 / 2 credits
Teacher(s): Ballif Christophe, Binder Signer Claudia Rebeca, Thalmann Philippe
Language: English
Summary
This course examines energy systems from various angles: available resources, how they can be combined or substituted, their private and social costs, whether they can meet the energy demand, and how the transition to a renewable energy system can be fostered.
Content
Energy resources and reduction of CO2 emissions (Christophe Ballif)
- Current and future CO2 and CO2 equivalent emissions, impact on climate
- Available resources and their properties (finite resources like fossil, nuclear fuel, vs hydro, non-hydro, renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal biomass)
- Energy statistics, direct cost of various energy sources, direct levelised cost electricity (LCOE)
- General aspects of energy transition, scenarios and expectations, at world, European and Swiss level
- Support to the energy transition: efficiency, heat pumps, electric mobility, power-to-gas, short term and long term storage solutions, smart grids, carbon storage
Energy economics (Philippe Thalmann, Sascha Nick)
- Decoupling: What it means, what it takes; green growth
- Energy economics: basic financial calculation, asset stranding, investment choice, levelized cost of electricity
- Energy, human needs and well-being
- Limits to market governance of energy in societal transitions
Energy transition (Claudia R. Binder and team)
- Governance perspectives and social-technical dimensions
- Energy system transitions (from a fossil fuel to a CO2 neutral system) as socio-technical change processes
- Insights into drivers and barriers for the socio-technical transition of the energy system
- Key actors in the Swiss energy sector
- Energy modelling and its challenges
Case study: a CO2-neutral energy system in Switzerland
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Critique theories and proposals related to energy supply
- Propose various scenarios for energy systems and their evolution
- Reason on technical, social, political and economic issues
- Explain the relationships between physical energy resources and energy supply
- Differentiate between scientific and propaganda arguments
- Restate concepts and mechanisms seen in class
Transversal skills
- Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
- Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
- Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Teaching methods
In-depth teaching and educational support.
Assessment methods
Written examen, multiple choice
Supervision
| Office hours | No |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | Yes |
Resources
Moodle Link
Videos
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Energy supply, economics and transition
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional