3174.23 - Energy systems and the environment


Course number
3174.23
Title
Energy systems and the environment
ECTS
7.5
Prerequisites
Thermodynamics
Purpose
To give students knowledge about and understanding of the characterization of energy systems and the analysis of the structure and constraints of today’s energy systems and related environmental problems.
Content
• Introduction energy system. • The global energy system, resources and reserves, energy consumption. • Primary, final and useful energy. • Sustainability, definitions • Limits of growth in energy production. • Examples for different countries. • Energy consumption in the different sectors (e.g. food, domestic energy, industry, transport, services) • Efficiency chains in the various sectors. • Environmental impacts, classical pollution, CO2. • Environmental impact of renewable technologies. • Life cycle assessment of environmental impact. • Examples from different sectors for reduced impact technology. • Course project: Case study on impact assessment for an energy project with results presented in the form of a scientific paper.
Learning and teaching approaches
Lectures, seminar presentations by students, group work, self-study and project-based learning, semester project.
Learning outcomes
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to: • Describe, discuss and evaluate energy supply situations with respect to primary energy requirements, energy carrier mix and conversion losses • Describe, discuss and evaluate energy systems by related environmental challenges including their contribution to the CO2 balance. • Describe, discuss and evaluate environmental problems related to renewable energy projects. • Present results in the form of a scientific paper
Assessment method
The student writes a scientific paper on a course-relevant subject and presents it orally. The grade is given as a combination of the two contributions, with 2/3 and 1/3 weight on the paper and presentation respectively.
Examination
Internal
Marking scale
7-
Bibliography
Everett, Peake, Warren (Eds), Energy Systems and Sustainability, Oxford University Press, 3rd ed. 2021. A reading list including actual relevant articles and other material will be made available to the students during the course. The major part of the teaching (and of the reading material) is based on relevant scientific papers.
Contact
Hans Georg Bayer