Energy Scenarios and Environmental Discourses

Based on different environmental perspectives the course shows the relation between energy and environment, and it gives basic knowledge on fossil and renewable energy resources. Scenarios incorporating sustainable environmentally friendly energy systems based on solar energy, like photovoltaic cells, solar heating, wind power and bio mass, are discussed in particular. Further, technical possibilities and limitations in different energy conversion processes are considered. The conversion from fossil energy carriers to hydrogen and other energy friendly energy ones, for use in stationary and mobile systems, is discussed in particular. The course also considers strategies and conditions related to the society and consequences for energy use and development of sustainable energy technology. There is a main focus on energy use and related emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG).

Knowledge:
The course provides the student with knowledge about:
- The concepts of energy and power.
- Why we need energy, where we find it and how we use it.
- Energy systems and efficiency.
- Local and global consequences for the environment in the past, today and in the future
The course gives the student knowledge of:
- Fossil and renewable energy. CO2-emissions. The Kyoto agreement, EU’s actions and UN’s climate reports.
- Energy use in buildings. EU’s Directive for energy performance in buildings. Use of passive and active solar heating.
- Renewable energy from hydropower, wind and waves. Heat pumps - how they work and typical applications.
- Bio energy and bio fuels.
- The importance of energy for the society now and in the future.
- The research on sustainable technological development and innovations.
- Photovoltaic solar energy.
- The hydrogen society. Fuel cells.
- Environmental philosophy. Limits for growth and progress.
- Local and global contamination related to energy use. LCA and carbon footprint.

Skills:
The course should enable the student to:
- Understand the relation between energy use and the environmental consequences.
- Evaluate and make good choices for personal use of energy with respect to the environment.
- Do simple calculations for energy systems and for green house gas emissions.
- Write short analyses on different problems regarding energy use, green house gas emissions and consequences for the society.

General competence:
The course should give the student insight on:
- Reasons for energy consumption.
- Different energy processes.
- Green house gas emissions and consequences for the earth and for the society.

Lectures, exercises, project work and technical tours. All lectures are given in the first part of the semester while exercises and the project work is carried out in the rest of the semester. 100% of the exercise work must be approved. Students may wor with the project alone or in a group up to three students. The project work must be submitted at the end of the semester. The only grade given, in this course, is for the report on the project work.