ENGR621-23S1 (C) Semester One 2023

Energy, Technology and Society

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 20 February 2023
End Date: Sunday, 25 June 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 5 March 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 14 May 2023

Description

The roles of civil, natural resources, electrical, mechanical, chemical/process engineering, environmental psychology, sociology and economics in the multi-disciplinary subject of energy engineering; the application of thermodynamics and electricity in energy system conceptual design, advanced concepts in economics comparing paradigms such as classical, neo-classical and steady-state economics; the decoupling of economic growth from energy consumption; energy poverty and energy services.

Wā akoranga | Lecture times and venue
One two-hour session per week, see UC’s My Timetable.


Tiro whānui | Overview
You will develop critical understanding of the roles of key disciplines in energy engineering. This includes understanding complexities and compromises in energy engineering decision-making, past and emerging issues, and future trends as informed by the latest theoretical and applied developments in international literature. This is a research-led class focusing on the relationship of energy systems with the technologies they use and societies in which they operate. It is designed to broaden your knowledge and skills to develop an appreciation of how engineering and other disciplines contribute to and interact in the energy field. This is a core course in the Renewable Energy degree, and we also welcome students from a range of engineering, science, economics, social science and other backgrounds with an understanding of quantitative methods.


Hua akoranga | Learning objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
• Discuss energy systems engineering from a multi-disciplinary lens
• Demonstrate high-level problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through the analysis and understanding of complex energy systems
• Understand the concepts of energy services, energy equity and the impacts of emerging technologies
• Critically analyse historic, present and emerging economic, business and policy paradigms, particularly in relation to renewable energy
• Perform and critically evaluate life cycle analysis, energy payback time, and levelised cost of energy and of storage calculations.

Learning Outcomes

  • Hua akoranga | Learning objectives

    At the end of this course, you will be able to:
  • Discuss energy systems engineering from a multi-disciplinary lens
  • Demonstrate high-level problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through the analysis and understanding of complex energy systems
  • Understand the concepts of energy services, energy equity and the impacts of emerging technologies
  • Critically analyse historic, present and emerging economic, business and policy paradigms, particularly in relation to renewable energy
  • Perform and critically evaluate life cycle analysis, energy payback time, and levelised cost of energy and of storage calculations.

Prerequisites

Subject to the approval of the Head of Department.

Timetable Note

Hōtaka | Timetable
This course includes a combination of lectures and interactive discussions. Each weekly session meets for 2 hours. Below is the proposed course timetable:

Week & Topic
1 Energy history and great debates
2 Towards 100% renewables
3 Energy economics
4 Energy and the environment
5 Energy and society
6 Energy storage
7 The future of transport
8 The future of heating
9 The future of hydropower
10 Revisiting the great debates towards 100% renewable energy
11 Project presentations
12 The power-to-X economy

Note: This is a general guide for the course and is subject to change. Up-to date information will be available on Learn.

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Jannik Haas

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Discussions 40%
Project 45%
final exam
Presentations 15%


Aromātai | Assessment

The assessment for this course has three major components –discussions, a research project, and a presentation. Given the nature of this course, active participation during class lecture and discussion is required to succeed.


Discussions
40%
TBA throughout the semester

Project
45%
Last day of the semester

Presentation
15%
Class of week 11

The discussions will occur both on Learn and in class, for which assigned reading material needs to be prepared. Each student in the class will be expected to lead a short class discussion once during the semester.

The major assessment for this course is a research project and associated presentation. You will receive the details of the research project after the first two weeks of the course and you are expected to integrate your learning from the entire semester in your final report. On the final day of class, you will present your research to the class.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,164.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 8 people apply to enrol.

For further information see Civil and Natural Resources Engineering .

All ENGR621 Occurrences

  • ENGR621-23S1 (C) Semester One 2023