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GEST-S492

Energy policy, sustainability & management

année académique
2024-2025
2025-2026

Titulaire(s) du cours

Adel EL Gammal (Coordonnateur), Julien BLONDEAU et Michel HUART

Crédits ECTS

5

Langue(s) d'enseignement

anglais

Contenu du cours

Understanding how the Russian Invasion in Ukraine is reshuffling the post-cold War geopolitical order and why it has been projecting Europe in an unprecedented energy crisis that will require a fundamental redefinition of its energy policy and questions the conditions of EU "Strategic Autonomy"

Understanding why the Climate Emergency requires an accelerated energy transition that constitutes a fundamental paradigm shift away from fossil fuels towards low-carbon energy technologies, which will profoundly redefine the notion of “security of supply” and the subsequent international relationships. In this context the race for technological leadership and the access to critical materials constitute key levers of international domination.



This course includes two parts: 
Part 1 addresses the very actual subject of “Geopolitics of Energy” and will be taught by Prof. A. El Gammal with the participation of 2 external lecturers.
Part 2 addresses the aspects of "Sustainable Energy" (MECA-H417) and will be taught by Prof. M. Huart and J. Blondeau.

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy
The course presents the basis of energy-related politics and how the geopolitics of energy constitutes the cornerstone of understanding international developments and news.
It illustrates the central role of energy resources in shaping relations between nations. It presents a historical analysis illustrating how "security of supply" has conditioned international relations to date. It will then describe how, global warming and the subsequent required energy transition will induce a progressive shift away from fossil fuels towards low-carbon technologies that will fundamentally reshuffle the stakes conditioning relations between nations at the global level. It concludes by introducing the main socio-economic reference scenarios (IPCC, IEA, etc.), the EU's long-term climate and energy strategy and their respective probable implications over the coming decades.

The subject is of paramount importance today, considering the unprecedented speed of transformation of  energy policy driven by: 
  • The climate emergency, which requires an accelerated transformation of our energy system from fossil fuels to low-carbon / renewable energy sources.
  • The Russian invasion in Ukraine in February 2022 that constitutes a deep redefinition of the post-cold War geopolitical order with profound, pervasive and long-lasting consequences for the entire world.
This part will analyse in detail the most recent development under these 2 fundamental drivers.
In particular, the course will review the origins and causes of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the deep and widespread consequences it will have in Europe and globally.
The course will review the impact this crisis has on EU economic, political and social stability and on the achievement of its long-term energy and climate objectives; it will analyse EU politico-economic response to the crisis called “REPowerEU”.

Part 2: Sustainable Energy

Today, energy and sustainability are matters of primary concern. Through a general overview of applied energy and a series of seminars, this part of the course provides some references and keys to understand applied energy, discuss the sustainable energy challenges and give insight into some innovative solutions for electro-mechanical engineering students.

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

  • Energy sustainability: How to make our energy society more sustainable?
  • Basics of science applied to energy systems: Energy, power, units, forms, main energy vectors (fuels, electricity, heat), combustion, conversions, rough estimates;
  • Energy systems: Overview of the energy commodities, standard technologies to provide heat, fuels, work, transport, electricity or storage; Resources and reserves (fossil, nuclear, renewable).
  • Energy statistics: World trends (Primary energy, final energy, electricity); Conventions; Energy flow chart, UE and National energy consumption;
  • Energy chain: Concept and main steps; Activities of supply; Electrical sector; Energy demand: Efficiency, introduction to sociology; EROEI, embodied energy (material and transport energy intensity);
  • 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.
  • Energy efficiency: Definitions, indicators and methods.

B. Sustainable Energy applications – A series of seminars and discussions, also with invited speakers (10 x 2 hours) – Julien BLONDEAU – 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:

  • Biomass
  • CO2 emissions and Carbon Capture and Storage
  • Mobility
  • Near Zero Emissions Building
  • Energy Storage
  • Impact of renewables on the electricity network
  • Waste to Energy
  • …

The students will prepare abstracts of the attended seminars that will be discussed during the oral exam.
The attendance to the seminars is mandatory.


 

Objectifs (et/ou acquis d'apprentissages spécifiques)

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy

  • Understand how energy is core to the development of nations.
  • Understand how the Geopolitics of Energy constitute an essential key to understanding international political developments
  • Understand the fundamental elements driving the energy debate in the context of sustainable development, particularly of global warming and the energy transition.
  • Get familiar with EU and international frameworks relating to climate and energy
  • Develop a holistic, multi-dimensional and critical approach to understanding global energy related politics, beyond the usually oversimplified public debate.
  • Understand how the required change in the energy paradigm will affect all aspects of our lives.


Part 2: Sustainable Energy
By the end of the program of study, the student is able:

  • To solve exercises in concrete situations of energy consumption (or generation) in order:
    • To characterize energy in its physics and technological aspects, efficiency, energy chain, sustainability, statistics of consumption, energy prices and costs;
    • To look at quantitative aspects by applying simple calculations with basics formulas of science, and using some assumptions based on realistic orders of magnitude and finally to express the estimate in an appropriate way (rounding, significant digits, unit);
    • To demonstrate critical approach on results (given or personal) by having in mind rough estimates and applying specific formulas related to energy systems;
  • To build an energy chain of a defined activity in a given context (energy systems, commodity, energy intensity of the service, need) and to analyse its sustainability and economical aspects
    • describing energy systems (commodities, resources, technologies, processes, services)
    • applying well-reasoned first estimation approaches (energy quantification, economics, sustainability, alternatives, efficiency)
    • selecting realistic assumptions
    • investigating alternatives and efficiency options;
  • 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 summarize a technical presentation given by a guest speaker and to express one’s opinion based on sound technical arguments.

Pré-requis et Co-requis

Connaissances et compétences pré-requises ou co-requises

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy

  • General understanding of the concept of energy in its multidimensional aspects
  • General understanding of the role of energy in the development of nations
  • General awareness of the relationship between climate and energy
  • General awareness of global and EU climate and energy framework (UN, UNFCC, COP, IPCC, …)

Part 2: Sustainable Energy

None

Méthodes d'enseignement et activités d'apprentissages

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy
Ex cathedra course (24h) 
Lessons are generally interactive and physical presence is highly recommended 

Part 2: Sustainable Energy

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.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy

  • IPCC AR5 (2014) & AR6 (2021-2022)
  • IEA, Special Flagship Report, Net Zero by 2050 (2021)
  • REPowerEU, European Commission, 2022
Part 2: Sustainable Energy

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

Support(s) de cours

  • Université virtuelle

Contribution au profil d'enseignement

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy

  • Develop a sense of critical and independent analysis of news, based on a holistic assessment of multiple and diverse sources of information
  • Initiation to « complex thinking » and in particular development of multi-disciplinary and multi-criteria analysis capabilities.
  • Raise awareness about the entanglement of technical, economic, legal, regulatory and political aspects relating to energy.
  • Raise awareness about the ubiquity of energy and the consequence of the energy transition, and the changes in the world geopolitical order, on all aspects of society
  • Develop a good understanding of how climate change drives a fundamental shift in the energy paradigm.

Part 2: Sustainable Energy

Competence framework of electro-mechanical engineering related in energy systems, energy efficiency, sustainable energy. In particular:

  • Demonstrate expertise and versatility in energy systems and energy consumption of given activities

  • Formulate and analyse sustainable energy applications and suggest optimal solution in a given context

  • Adapt scientific and technical communication

  • Be a responsible person aware of societal, environmental and economic issues through sustainability

Autres renseignements

Informations complémentaires

The classes can be given on VUB Campus.

The attendance to the seminars is mandatory.

Contacts

Prof. Adel El Gammal:       adel.el.gammal@ulb.be
Prof. Michel Huart:             michel.huart@ulb.be
Prof. Julien Blondeau:        julien.blondeau@vub.be

 

Campus

Solbosch

Evaluation

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

  • Examen écrit
  • Examen oral
  • Travail de groupe

Examen écrit

Examen oral

Travail de groupe

Part 1: Geopolitics of Energy

  • Oral or written examination 
  • Optional Group study case
For students choosing to present a group study case, the notation will be the average between the individual oral/written notation and the study case notation of the group the student is participating to.

Part 2: Sustainable Energy

Assessment of knowledge and skills through (1) solving simple cases of energy consumption (or generation) in a given context and commenting energy systems (technology, energy chain, economics, sustainability) and (2) reporting the relevant insights of the given seminars.

In order to be allowed to take the exam, the graded homework and the abstracts have to be submitted on time.
Submitting feedback (regularity, consistency, relevance) may entitle you to two bonus points on general overview part (1).


 

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

The final notation will be constituted by the average of notations on each part of the course.
50% for Part 1 "Geopolitics of Energy"
50% for Part 2 "Sustainable Energy"
 

Langue(s) d'évaluation

  • anglais
  • (éventuellement français )

Programmes