Sustainability, climate and energy
Summary
The course provides students with a comprehensive scientific understanding of the links between climate and energy systems in the context of sustainability. It will cover topics related to natural and anthropogenic climate change, the fundamentals of energy systems and their efficiency.
Content
The climate system
- Earth energy balance
- Biosphere and carbon cycle
- Climate archives
- Natural forcings, slow and fast factors
- Anthropogenic forcings, climate sensitivity and feedbacks
The energy systems
- Evolution of resources and demands
- Power cycles
- Conventional and renewable energy resources, advantages and drawbacks
- Energy, life cycle and carbon budget
Climate impact on energy
- Case studies as a function of energy resources
- Social acceptance of energy transitions
Keywords
Climate change, Earth system, greenhouse gases, energy system, energy conversion, fossil and renewable sources, feedbacks
Learning Prerequisites
Required courses
None
Recommended courses
ENV-320: Physics and chemistry of the atmosphere
Important concepts to start the course
Thermodynamics
Conservation principles
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Discuss the concepts of climate variability at different time scales and climate sensitivity
- Draw the energy balances of an energy conversion system
- Describe the climate limitations to energy conversion scenarios
- Interpret climate data and model outputs
Transversal skills
- Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
- Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
- Summarize an article or a technical report.
- Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Teaching methods
Course ex-cathedra and exercises.
Project work with teams.
Field visit.
Expected student activities
Lecture attendance, exercise assignments, project work, presentations
Assessment methods
20% exercises
30% project
50% exam
Supervision
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | Yes |
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Sustainability, climate and energy
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Sustainability, climate and energy
- Courses: 3 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional