pre315 - Energy Systems & Society (Complete module description)

After the completion of this module the students will
- have a critical understanding of political decision making processes, lobby groups and administrative hurdles in realisation of energy policy
- have a good understanding of factors other than technical influencing future energy scenarios depending on regional and national conditions
- have a good understanding of the structure of the global energy system
- be able to critically interpret energy statistics and to identify different stages of energy conversion
- be familiar with all available energy resources and their future role in the global energy system
- be familiar with the instrument of energy scenarios and able to interpret their results
- be able to critically follow scientific discussions in the physical background and impacts of global climate change
- understand basic economic concepts
- understand the organization of a market economy
- know the relevance of competition and monopoly
- understand the role of regulation for energy markets
- be able to undertake a desk-top research on a complex topic
- be able to give a presentation on an individual country (or region), focusing on renewable energy
- know about several other countries’ and regions’ situation
- to perform team research
- be able to present in front of an audience and to moderate a discussion

Energy Systems
- basic terminology on energy units
- definition and discussion of various forms of energy
- overview of energy resources and reserves
- the global energy situation (energy consumption, energy balances, noncommercial uses of energy)
- energy scenarios (methodologies, main results for possible energy futures)
- techno-economic methods and aspects of energy use (energy and exergy analyses, life cycle analysis, external costs, etc.
- human-made greenhouse effect
Energy Economics
- the ten principles of economics
- the role of costs for decision making
- markets, competition, monopoly
- regulation and environmental policy
- investment decision, finance and risk management
Country Report
- analysis and presentation of an individual country or region
- geographic, climatic, historic, economic and political situation
- focus on (renewable) energy matters
- team research and presentation, followed by a discussion (moderated by team)

Blok, Kornelis, 2007: Introduction to Energy Analysis, Techne Press, Amsterdam
Boyle, Godfrey, Everett, Bob & Ramage, Janet, 2004: Energy Systems and Sustainability, Oxford University Press.
Chartcenko, Nikolaj Vasil'evic, 1998: Advanced Energy Systems, Taylor & Francis, London.
GEA, 2012: Global Energy Assessment – Toward a Sustainable Future, Cambridge University Press and International Institute for Applied System Analysis, Laxenburg.
Nakicenovic, Nebojsa, 1998: Global Energy Perspectives, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Cambridge University Press.
Pfaffenberger, Wolfgang: Energy Economics - An Introduction, 126 pages and further literature given in this book. Lecture Script.
Ramage, Janet, 1997: Energy: A Guidebook, Oxford University Press.
Statistical Review of World Energy 2013, 2013: British Petroleum; http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/about-bp/energyeconomics/
statistical-review-of-world-energy-2013.html , last access: June 2014
World Energy Assessment Overview: 2004 Update: Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability; UNDP (Ed.): http://www.undp.org/content/dam/aplaws/publication/en/publications/environment-energy/www-ee-library/sustainable-energy/world-energyassessment-overview-2004-update/World%20Energy%20Assessment%20Overview-2004%20Update.pdf , last access: June 2014
Country Reports from previous years

Energy Systems: At the end of lecture period (end of January)
Energy Economics: After end of lectures (mid-December)
Country report: During Semester

Energy Systems (40%): Written exam (1.5 hours)
Energy Economics (25%): Written exam (0.5 hours)
Country report (35%): Written report 15 – 20 pages & Presentation (20 min plus 10 min discussion)