UPPSALA UNIVERSITET : IKP : UHDSG
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Global Energy Perspective

  • Global Energy Perspective course description
  • Global Energy Perspective course plan
  • Globala energiperspektiv kursplan

    • 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.

    Course layout

    The course is divided into four blocks, which cover the most important aspects of the global energi. These will be examined by written hand-in exercises.

    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 powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 1: Energy Basics mp3
    Lecture 2: Energy History powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 2: Energy History mp3
    Block 1: Hand-in exercises (doc-file)

    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 related problems
  • Uranium, hydro, biomass and other renewables

    • Lecture 3: Energy Resources powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 3: Energy Resources mp3
    Lecture 4: Peak Oil-related problems powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 4: Peak Oil-related problems mp3
    Peak Oil: Background, Logic, Timing powerpoint presentation
    Block 2: Hand-in exercises (doc-file)

    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 powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 5: Energy Production mp3
    Lecture 6: Energy Production 2 powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 6: Energy Production 2 mp3
    Lecture 7: Future energy Production powerpoint presentation
    Lecture 7: Future Energy Production mp3
    Combustion powerpoint presentation
    Block 3: Hand-in exercises (doc-file)

    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 use in the society power point presentation
    Lecture 8: Energy use in the society mp3
    Lecture 9: Energy Politics power point presentation
    Lecture 9: Energy Politics mp3
    Block 4: Hand-in exercises (doc-file)

    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

    Can be found here.


    Course material

    Most of the material will be web-based articles or hand-out material.

    Web material:
  • Australian Coal Association - Coal in Steelmaking
  • Franklin Institute: History of energy
  • The Coal Resource
  • BGR Report on Reserves, Resources and Availability 2005
  • BP Statistical Review of World Energy (various editions)
  • IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2007
  • Giant Oil Fields - Highway to Oil
  • World Energy Council: Publications
  • UHDSG - popular science
  • UHDSG - Publications
  • Energywatch Group: Uranium Resources and Nuclear Energy
  • Energywatch Group: Coal Resources and Future Production
  • Olduvai Theroy of energy, population and industrial civilisation
  • Oil Reserve & Resource definitions
  • Britains Offshore Oil & Gas - education material (very good!)
  • IPCC - Special Report on Emission Scenarios
  • USGS - Gas hydrates
  • "The Peak and Decline of World Oil and Gas Production" (strongly recommended!!!)
  • DOE - Enhanced Oil Recovery
  • Uranium Enrichment
  • Energy consumption in food sector and agriculture
  • Eating Fossil fuels
  • Smithsonian Institute - fuel cells


    • Recommended side-reading: "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.
    More will be added here later.

    Communication software

    The course is given as a distance course and communication will be important. Some lectures will be given over the web through a online conference program (hopefully!). Other communication can be done via ICQ, MSN, Skype or email.

    Marratech can be found here (click on downloads).
    Different e-meeting rooms can be found here.
    Skype, a free voice-over-internet client, is available from 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.