3 ECTS credits
90 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4020267FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
A. General overview
• Basics of physics applied to energy systems: Energy, power, units, forms, main products (electricity, heat and fuels), conversions, rough estimates of energy consumption from daily life activities;
1. World energy systems (renewable; fossil; nuclear): Main technologies and proved reserves;
2. Energy sustainability: Introduction to the debate through different authors and challenges;
3. Energy statistics: Conventions, energy flow chart, national energy consumptions;
4. Energy chain: Activities, efficiency, embodied energy;
5. Prices and costs of energy: Evolution, trend lines, components, externalities, values (average, marginal, current, constant), discounting;
6. Energy efficiency: Definitions, indicators and methods.
The students will prepare a homework on energy efficicency that will be discussed during the oral exam.
B. Seminars
Sustainable Energy applications – A series of seminars and discussions, also with invited speakers. 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.
The attendance to the seminars is mandatory.
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, energy chain, sustainability, statistics of consumption, energy prices and costs;
– To look at quantitative aspects by applying a simple rule of thumb with some elementary arithmetic and orders of magnitude;
– 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 a well-reasoned analysis of the sustainability in a given context (energy systems, specific needs)
– by discussing different authors analysis;
– by describing energy systems (resources, energy conversions aspects, main features)
– by applying a methodology of rational use of energy (efficiency, energy saving, demand side management);
• 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 summarize a technical presentation given by a guest speakers and to express ones opinion based on sound technical arguments;
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Oral exam with written preparation. Discussions based on:
- The student's homework on energy efficiency;
- The student's abstacts on the attended seminars.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Electromechanical Engineering: Energy (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Electromechanical Engineering: Energy