Energy Systems & Policy

Code

ENGR4010

School

Engineering Research

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

The module explores the social, ethical, economic and public policy aspects of the development, embedding and transformation of modern energy systems. Students will be introduced to current issues relating to the supply and demand for energy, the technologies involved (e.g., fossil fuels, nuclear, bioenergy, renewables, hydrogen) and how these might be assessed from different disciplinary perspectives (sociology, science and technology studies, economics, development studies, geography, and public policy studies). These will be framed in terms of the overarching concept of ‘energy systems’ and students will be encouraged to make connections between different perspectives. Topics may include: energy security and energy policy at national and global levels; electricity markets; energy and the environment; relationship between fossil fuels, geopolitics and modern lifestyles; energy technologies and risk assessment; public policies around sustainable energy transitions and climate change mitigation; public perceptions of energy technologies; social practices of energy use; and energy access, energy poverty and development

Target Students

Required/core module for students in EPSRC Industrial Centre Doctoral Training in Resilient Decarbonised Fuel Energy Systems and in EPSRC Centre of Doctoral Training in Sustainable Hydrogen.

Classes

• One 7-hour lecture
• One 7-hour lecture

Total teaching/contact time - 42 hours, 2 x blocks of 7 hours per day for 3 day block. The first block is delivered by the University of Nottingham. The second block is delivered by the University of Cardiff as per arrangements within the CDT in Resilient Decarbonised Fuel Energy Systems (a consortium between the Universities of Nottingham, Cardiff and Sheffield).. Directed reading: 76 hours Coursework preparation: 82 hours Total: 200 hours

Assessment

• 50% Coursework 1: 2000 word essay on topics covered in block 1 (convened by Cardiff University)
• 50% Coursework 2: 2000 word essay on topics covered in block 2 (convened by University of Nottingham

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

a) Knowledge and understanding 

• Main uses for energy, how they are currently met and how these are projected to change in the future.

• The main economic, environmental and political forces affecting the energy industries, especially in the UK.

• Key themes and debates relating to the wider social context of energy technology development and prospects for a sustainable energy transition.

• Reasons why technologies are seen as socially shaped and why they may raise uncertainties, or resistance.

• Role of public policy drivers at national and international level that affect energy.

• Questions around equity, development and the relationship between energy access and poverty.

b) Intellectual skills

• A critical and reflexive understanding of the wider context of energy technologies and energy use.

• An awareness of the need to consider the significance of underlying assumptions in the framing of claims from multiple sources.

• The ability to develop coherent arguments that engage with the relevant literature in order to understand the social, institutional, economic and political significance of energy technologies.

c) Professional practical skills

• Learn to engage with diverse and complex materials, and critically assess knowledge claims and judgments.

• Manage personal development bibliographic skills including the ability to identify key resources (eg. Use of library, internet).

d) Transferable (key) skills

• Manage large and disparate sources of information.

• Write coherently and develop sustained argument with supporting evidence.

• Formal and informal communication skills in writing and discussion.

Conveners

• Professor Robin Irons