Sustainable development in the energy sector
Entry Requirements
- 5 credits Biology
- 5 credits Business Administration or Industrial Economy (see Additional information)
- 10 credits on advanced level in Energy systems or Resource use (see Additional information)
- 5 credits Life Cycle Assessment (see Additional information)
- knowledge equivalent to Swedish 3 and English 5 from Swedish upper secondary school
Course facts
TN0350, Sustainable development in the energy sector, 5.0 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Finalized by: PN - NJ, 2019-11-27
Valid from : Autumn semester 2020 (2020-08-31)
Level
Second cycle (A1F)
Main field of study
Technology, Environmental Science
Grading Scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Course language
Swedish
Entry Requirements
- 5 credits Biology
- 5 credits Business Administration or Industrial Economy (see Additional information)
- 10 credits on advanced level in Energy systems or Resource use (see Additional information)
- 5 credits Life Cycle Assessment (see Additional information)
- knowledge equivalent to Swedish 3 and English 5 from Swedish upper secondary school
Objectives
The course will provide a deeper understanding of the transition to more sustainable energy systems in practice. It focuses on the conditions, opportunities and obstacles for organisations and companies in the energy sector or energy-intensive activities to practically implement technologies and processes to achieve global and national sustainability goals in their operations.
After completing the course the student should be able to:
- Describe different dimensions of sustainability, with special emphasis on energy and resource management issues.
- Compare different ways of measuring sustainability, especially with regards to energy and resource utilisation.
- Reflect in writing on sustainable entrepreneurship and describe how ecological, economic and social dimensions of sustainability affect a business.
- Based on a case study, practically handle ethical considerations and trade-offs, and suggest necessary priorities and technical solutions in business development
- Individually argue for sustainability aspects in the energy sector, in both Swedish and English, based on case studies and relevant literature
- Quantify, analyse and relate a company’s or an organisation’s activities to the planetary boundaries and sustainability goals, and to identify potential goal conflicts in the implementation of new technology and new processes.
- Identify, critically review and analyse sustainability work in practice in energy-relevant businesses, and reflect on the role of the engineer and the engineer’s professional ethics linked to sustainable development.
- Relate previously gained knowledge in energy systems and resource management to the practical development work of actors in the sector and their sustainability challenges.
Content
The course covers the following topics:
- Different frameworks and dimensions of sustainability
- Sustainable entrepreneurship and its driving forces
- Practical sustainability work in energy-relevant companies and organisations
- Different ways of measuring sustainability
- Applied sustainability analysis and mapping activities
- Tools for managing target conflicts and ethical considerations
- The engineer’s role and responsibility in practical sustainability work
- Planetary boundaries
- Differences between small and large businesses
The course is given in the form of lectures, guest lectures from relevant companies (eg large energy producers or consumers, smaller organizations) and other players in the energy sector (eg business initiatives, regions, municipalities etc.), student and teacher-led seminars, group work , roundtable discussions and individual presentations. The course also contains a larger case study linked to a specific activity.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
- Approved written synthesis report according to instructions with individual position statement - Approved individual oral presentation of parts of the case study in English - Approved participation in round table discussions and group report - Approved participation in compulsory seminars
Responsible Department/Equivalent
Department of Energy and Technology
Supplementary information
Included in program
- Master Programme in Energy Systems Engineering
Module set
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 5.0 | 0101 |
Other Information
The requirement for prior knowledge in energy systems or resource use can be fulfilled by e.g. the course 1TE035 Energy efficiency in buildings - technology and systems 10 hp, TN0284 Bioenergy - technology and systems 10 hp, 1TE038 Wind power - technology and systems 10 hp, 1TE028 Solar energy - technology and systems 10 hp, 1TE754 Analysis of Electric Power Systems 10hp, or 1GV134 District heating systems 5 hp. The requirement for prior knowledge in life cycle assessement can be fulfilled by e.g. the course TN0285 Energy and life cycle assessment 5 hp. The requirement for prior knowledge in Biology can be fulfilled by e.g. the course KE0069 Environmental Impacts of Energy Systems 5 hp. The requirement for prior knowledge in business administration can be fulfilled by e.g. the course FÖ0450 Business Administration 5 credits or 1TE743 Industrial Management 5 credits.