Future Energy Technology

Future Energy Technology is a general introductory course to the Swedish and international energy systems and it gives an overview of available energy sources as well as existing and future technologies on how to use available energy in a sustainable and cost effective way. In this context consumer behaviour as well as consequence analysis related to CO2 pollution and climate change is discussed. Declining energy resources such as available oil reserves, security and its implications for energy use in industry and society is also highlighted. In this way, the course illustrates the prerequisites for sustainable and effective energy production in tomorrow’s society.

Course name
Future Energy Technology

Course code
MJ1457

Application code on universityadmissions.se
KTH-40008

Responsible department
Energy Technology

Grading system
Pass-Fail

Level of education
Basic

General admission requirements
You must provide complete transcripts/academic records of 90 ECTS credits or equivalent in the relevant field of study.

Proficiency in the English language has to be documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL: internet based test with a total score of at least 90 and minimum score 20 in written test, paper based test with a total score of at least 575, and minimum score 4.5 in written test, or IELTS (academic) with an overall mark of at least 6.5 and no band less than 5.5.

Selection
The selection is based on an overall assessment of your previous qualifications such as previous education,  relevant work experience and statement of intent.

Learning outcomes
After successful course completion, the student shall be able:

• to account for different energy technologies/systems as they exist today as well as future energy technologies/systems. 
• to discuss the complexity of problems that the energy supply must relate to (for example climate- and environmental impact, safety of supply, cost perspective) and formulate ideas for solutions from an overall perspective
• to describe advantages and disadvantages of different energy  technologies/systems in relation to the external environment and to argue for and against different technical and economic solutions
• to perform simple calculations in order to judge the cost effectiveness, sustainability and safety of supply of different energy technologies/systems and be able to relate this to other effects such as environmental or social impact in a comprehensive manner

Course content
The overall objective with the course is to give the student an understanding of the Swedish and the global energy systems, explain why they look the way they do and what the technical, economic and the political boundary conditions are.

The course starts with the first week as distance based course where lectures are recorded. The following three weeks, course is given daytime on campus Valhallavägen and comprises lectures, seminars, home assignments, group assignments and study visits.

During every course week a number of lectures are given in an auditorium, some of them by specially invited guest-lecturers. Furthermore one seminar is held in course week 2 and 4, respectively. These seminars are held in smaller rooms in order to facilitate communication amongst participants. The lectures will focus on comprehensive questions whereas the seminars open for detailed discussions on the subject matter.

Examination
This course applies progressional examination, meaning that it is possible to pass the course through active participation in lectures and seminars. The course marks are either pass or fail. The following examination forms are applied in the course:

1. Presence at lectures:
Each week of active lectures are completed with a quiz section that will be performed in BILDA, to rehearse the fundamental information that has been taught in lectures during the week. The quiz will be open for one week after publishing. At least 75% of the quiz questions shall be answered correctly to pass.  The successful completion of all quizzes renders 1,5 credits.

2. Home Assignment:
During the first week, the basic principles of energy conversion and their application to energy technology will be presented. At the end of week 1 the students will receive a home assignment to assess their understanding of this basic knowledge. The students will have 1 week to complete the assignment. The home assignment will then be discussed in a dedicated lecture in week 2. The successful completion of the home assignment renders 1,5 credits.

3. Participation in study visits and study visit seminar:
There will be a study visit. The students will be divided in groups and each group shall prepare 3 questions to be answered during the study visit.  After the visit a study visit seminar will give the opportunity to present their study visit experience and results to the other groups. 
The questions shall be submitted in BILDA before the study visit. The presentations shall be submitted in BILDA before deadline.  The participation in the study visit and successful completion of the study visit seminar renders 1,5 credits.

4. Active participation in 1 additional seminar:
In front of the seminar, the students shall have prepared an exercise (group based ) resulting in a short written report (max 3 pages) (doc, pdf) and a presentation (max 20min) (power point). The group report will be given feedback with the help of peer review by other students based on a peer review template. The group based report, the peer review and the presentation shall be submitted in BILDA. Successful participation in the seminar renders the student 1,5 credits.

Requirements for final grade
The student passes the course if all 6 credits above are obtained

Language of instruction
English

Course literature
Following literature will be used in the course:
Lecture presentation material (via BILDA)

Contact
Björn Laumert bjorn.laumert@energy.kth.se