SEES502 ENERGY SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Course Objectives

The main focus will be on meeting global energy needs of the 21st century in a sustainable manner. Coming out of this course, a successful student will:

Develop a sense of changes caused by global warming, and global response;

Understand the fundamentals of current and future energy systems, including available resources, and issues around extraction, conversion, distribution, and end-use,

Acquire introductory knowledge of different conventional and renewable energy technologies, and develop a sense of how to use this knowledge to aid in the evaluation and analysis of energy systems in the context of political, social, economic, and environmental goals,

Be able to analyze energy options under a set of provided conditions, and evaluate energy policies for sustainable development,

Apply knowledge to selected case studies / examples around the globe.

Course Content

Interdisciplinary exploration of environmental, scientific, economic, social, and political opportunities and impacts associated with energy systems. Main fuel technologies such as fossil, hydroelectric, nuclear, photovoltaic, wind, and biomass. The supply and use of energy systems with emphasis on sustainability. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of energy resources, combustion, conversion, distribution processes in terms of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Emerging portfolios of energy systems. Investigation of local and global options. A term paper on a topic outside thesis research area. A local field trip.

Course Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to analyze technical and economic aspects of renewable energy systems, and deal with the sustainability and environmental issues of all energy systems around the world.