Sustainable energy

Today, energy and sustainability are matters of primary concern. Through (A) a multidisciplinary general overview of applied energy and (B) a series of seminars, the course (A) provides some references and keys to understand applied energy, (B) discuss the sustainable energy challenges and gives an insight of some innovative solutions. The course is for electro-mechanical engineering students.

A. General overview (6 x 2 hours) - Applied energy and sustainability - Michel HUART – ULB
Key concepts and methods

1. Basics of science applied to energy systems: Energy, power, units, forms; Main energy vectors (fuels, electricity, heat); Heating degree day; Combustion; Energy conversions (efficiency); rough estimates and order of magnitude.
2. Energy systems (commodities, technologies, reserves): Overview of the energy commodities (fuel, heat, electricity); Standard technologies to provide heat, fuels, work, transport, electricity or storage; Electricity sector; Resources and reserves (fossil, nuclear, renewable). 
3. Energy chains (concept and indicators): Energy chain main steps; Fuel chain, embodied energy, total energy consumption; Process efficiencies, energy intensity, EROEI, material and transport energy intensity;
4. Energy demand: Intrinsic energy of activities, energy consumption statistics; Reducing demand (efficiency, energy savings, sufficiency), rebound effects; Behavioural disciplines, Introduction to sociology: ISM model;
5. Prices and costs of energy: Energy markets (Belgian retail and international wholesale), energy bill and unit prices, components, values (average, marginal, current, constant); Discounting; Price evolutions (observed and projected); Costs: CAPEX, OPEX, LCOE, Externalities.
6. Energy statistics: World trends (Primary energy, final energy, electricity); Conventions; Energy flow chart, UE and National energy consumption.

B. Sustainable Energy applications – A series of seminars and discussions, also with invited speakers (10 x 2 hours) – Maarten MESSAGIE – VUB
The seminars will give an insight into the current status, the perspectives and the challenges associated to various technologies. Non-exhaustive list of the discussed topics:

• Anthropogenic climate change
• Sustainable manufacturing
• CO2 emissions and Carbon Capture and Storage
• Mobility
• Near Zero Emissions Building
• Energy Storage
• Electricity network
• Renewable energy sources
• Rebound effect
• ...

The attendance to the seminars is mandatory. They student will give feedback on the seminars. The students will prepare a homework based on the fact-checking of a statement related to one of the topics covered during the seminars.

By the end of the program of study, the student is able:

• To define, to illustrate and to make appropriate use of key concepts and methods of applied energy.
• To solve exercises in concrete situations of energy consumption (or generation)
• To build an energy chain of a defined activity in a given context (energy systems, commodity, intrinsic energy of the service-related actvity, need) and to analyse its sustainability and economical aspects

 

• To describe and to analyse sustainable energy applications (renewable, efficiency, demand response, rational use of energy, energy system innovation) through case studies in industry, buildings and transport (seminars) ;
• To deliver a professional report (format, legibility).
• To give feedback on a seminar given by a guest speaker
• To fact-check a statement related to the sustainable transition using reliable sources and to express one’s opinion about it based on sound technical arguments.

Up to 18 sessions of 2 hours given by professors and external experts.
Graded homework (feedbacks, readings, exercises, reports, abstracts).
Attendance to the seminars and course activities are compulsory.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

B. EVERETT, G. BOYLE, S. PEAKE, J. RAMAGE - Energy Systems and Sustainability –Oxford University Press, 2012 - 653 pages - ISBN: 978-0-19-959374-3 – 42 £

D. MACKAY - Sustainable Energy – without the hot air – UIT Cambridge Ltd, 2009 – 380 pages - ISBN: 978-0954452933 - Free download: http://www.withouthotair.com/

IEA: "Energy statistics Manual", 2005 and "Energy Efficiency Indicators: Fundamentals on Statistics", 2014. – Free download - https://webstore.iea.org/statistics-data   

NREL – A manual for the Economic Evaluation of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies, 1995 - Free download - https://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/old/5173.pdf

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Additional information

The classes can be given on VUB Campus.

The attendance to the seminars is mandatory.

Contacts

Coordinator: Michel HUART - michel.huart@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch, Other campus

Method(s) of evaluation

• Personal work
• Oral examination
• Other
• Written report

Personal work

Oral examination

• Open question with long development

Other

Written report

General overview: Personal work or oral exam
Submission of answers to the questionnaires after each lecture.

Criteria of evaluation for the submissions of general overview:

• Regularity: Over a period of five to six lectures, penalty is given if less than four feedback are submitted.
• Clarity: Terminology and concern of being understood;
• Discernment: Related to the issue and linked with lecture;
• Quality: Care in following the instructions, intention in the resolution or sense of synthesis, evolution of the quality over time;
• Ability to complete the exercise individually;
• An abusive use of AI is penalised, and it can lead to a mark of 0/20.

In the event of failure or for the second examination session, assessment is conducted through an oral examination. Students are evaluated on their understanding and mastery of the key concepts and methods covered in the general overview lectures and associated questionnaires.

Seminars: Presence, homework, peer assessment or oral exam
Presence and submission of a feedback after the seminars.
Participation in the peer assessment of the homework.

The homework will be assessed based on the following criteria:
•    Quality of claim selection and relevance to the course
•    Depth of the fact-checking process (accuracy and reliability of sources used)
•    Clarity and structure of the report
•    Applying key concepts and methods learnt or revised during the first part of the course (General overview)
•    Critical thinking and reasoning in the conclusion
•    Proper referencing of sources
•    An abusive use of GAI is penalised, and it can lead to a mark of 0/20.

Oral exam
The student will be invited to an oral exam in case of failure, where homework and/or personal work will be discussed. Students may also request an oral exam to defend their work and improved their mark


Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and penalty for abuse
The authorized use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools is governed by three fundamental principles: subsidiarity, transparency and accountability.

Principle of subsidiarity: GAI cannot replace learning, personal reflection, critical thinking, or the task being assessed.
-> GAI should be used as a support tool to assist with reflection, information gathering, and source analysis, rather than as a substitute for personal intellectual work.

Principle of transparency: Any contribution made by GAI to academic work must be clearly acknowledged.
-> Users should explicitly indicate which parts were generated or assisted by GAI and explain the reasons for its use.

Principle of accountability: Users remain responsible for respecting copyright and data protection regulations, including when interacting with GAI systems.
-> They must ensure that neither their own work nor AI-generated content infringes intellectual property rights and are fully accountable for any content included in their work.

Any use of GAI that violates these three principles will be considered misuse, may result in penalties and it can lead to a mark of 0/20.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

50% General overview
50% Seminars

Language(s) of evaluation

• english