Global Energy Perspective, 7,5 hp
Goal
The main aim for this course is to provide students with a view on the worlds energy systems. Both a brief technical basis and some fundamental physical principles. The focus will be on the larger picture and to provide a overview of the worlds energy system and supply.
The english course plan is available here.
The course plan in swedish is available here.
Course layout
The course is divided into four blocks, which cover the most important aspects of the global energy system. These will be examined by four written hand-in exercises. A final project work about a topic chosen freely by the student is also done as the final task.
Block 1: Energy basics
- What is energy? How can it be used? What forms of energy are interesting for humans? What energy sources are available?
- The global energy situation: Fossil fuels cover around 80% of the energy production. The rest is mostly combustion, hydro- or nuclear power.
- The historical development. The world was dependent on coal during the 19th century. Introduction of oil and how it replaced coal as a dominating fuel. Increased use of natural gas. Possible future outlooks.
Lecture 1: Energy Basics power point presentation
Lecture 1: Energy Basics mp3-file
Lecture 2: Energy History power point presentation
Lecture 3: Energy History mp3-file
Block 1 Hand-in
Block 2: Energy resources
- How much fossil fuels are there? Where is it located and how is it extracted?
- Origin of oil, gas and coal. How much is it possible to extract?
- Peak oil and finite amounts of available fossil fuels. What are the consequences of this for society?
- Uranium, hydro, biomass and other renewables. Where are they located and how much can be used?
Lecture 3: Energy Resources power point presentation
Lecture 3: Energy Resources mp3-file
Lecture 4: Finite Resources power point presentation
Peak Oil - background, logic, timing - supplementary presentation
Peak Oil and the declining supply of fossil fuels - supplementary presentation
Block 2 Hand-in
Block 3: Energy production
- World primary electricity generation.
- Transportation.
- Combustion-based energy production.
- Basics of wind, hydro, nuclear and solar energy.
- Future outlook, new energy sources such as fusion and artificial photosynthesis.
Lecture 5: Energy production 1 power point presentation
Lecture 5: Energy Production mp3-file
Lecture 6: Energy production 2 power point presentation
Lecture 6: Energy Production mp3-file
Lecture 7: Future Energy production power point presentation
Lecture 7: Future Energy Production mp3-file
Growth rates of global energy systems - supplementary presentation
Block 3 Hand-in
Block 4: Applications of energy
- Where are the energy used in society?
- Energy consumption in farming and industry.
- Energy systems for transmission, distribution and storage.
- Energy trading and energy politics.
Lecture 8: Energy In the Society power point presentation
Lecture 8: Energy in the Society mp3-file
Lecture 9: Energy Politics power point presentation
Lecture 9: Energy Politics mp3-file
Block 4 Hand-in
Project report
The final part of the course is a project work. It can be written in swedish or english. The extent should be between 5-10 pages. A suitable layout can be found from the works here. Regarding the topic you are free to chose anything you find interesting, just make sure to verify with the teacher that your suggested topic is suitable. Do not forget a reference list of your sources!
Some project topic suggestions:
- Energy consumption of artificial fertilizers and food production
- How long will uranium reserves last?
- Modelling and forecasting the future global wind power system
- Can biodiesel solve the liquid fuel problem?
- Natural gas and future gas production
- Solar energy and its potential
Schedule and recommended reading
Available from here
Course material
"Energy and problems of a technical society" by Jack J. Kraushaar (second edition). This book will cover most aspects of the course and provides a good introductionary overview of the subject.
An alternative book is "Energy at the crossroads" by Vaclav Smil or even the "Energiteknik del 1+2" by Henrik Alvarez. Hand-out material and web-material will also be used. It is possible to pass the course only by using web resources.
Useful web material:
- Coal and Oil <= contains comprehensive history and overview of resource depletion with focus on coal and oil
- Coal in Steelmaking
- Franklin Institute: History of Energy
- Thinkquests Energy Matters and Energy History
- World Coal Institute: The Coal Resource
- Energy statistics material
- IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2008
- BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2010
- Britain's Offshore Oil and Gas
- Giant Oil Fields - The Highway to Oil
- World Energy Council publications
- Hubberts famous report "Nuclear Energy and the Fossil Fuels"
- Global Energy Systems publications
- Global Energy Systems popular science
- Generation 4 Nuclear Power
- Longwall mining (note all the sub-pages)
- Olduvai Theory - importance of energy to the society
- Peak Oil for dummies <- Good overview of the Peak Oil debate
- Study of World Oil Resources with a Comparison to IPCC Emissions Scenarios
Communication software
The course is given as a distance course and communication will primarily be done through email. It is also possible to arrange interactive lectures over the internet. This will be done using the Adobe Connect client.
More information about this program here.
Contact
Mikael Höök is the responsible teacher. Further contact details can be found here.
Examination
The course will be examined through hand-in excersises and a written project report.