Energy supply, economics and transition

ENG-410 / 2 crédits

Enseignant(s): Ballif Christophe, Hecher Maria Anna, Nick Sascha, Thalmann Philippe

Langue: Anglais

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 levelized cost of 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 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, LCOE
  • Energy, human needs and well-being
  • Limits to market governance of energy in societal transitions

Energy transition (Maria Anna Hecher and colleagues)

  • Analyzing energy systems as socio-technical systems (multi-phase and multi-level perspectives)
  • Social acceptance in energy transitions
  • Demand-side strategies and behaviour change to reduce carbon emissions
  • Material requirements, material criticality, and geopolitical implications of energy transitions
  • Modelling energy transitions with agent-based models

Case study: a CO2-neutral energy system in Switzerland

Keywords

Energy resources
Energy supply
Energy prices
Energy costs
Energy transition
Renewable energy
Decarbonisation
Decoupling
Green growth
Sustainability

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
  • 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
Assistant.e.s Yes
Forum Yes

Resources

Moodle Link

Videos

Dans les plans d'études

  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: obligatoire
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: obligatoire
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: obligatoire
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Printemps
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'été)
  • Matière examinée: Energy supply, economics and transition
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel

Semaine de référence

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