PDF versionModule Leader
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer
Timing and Structure
Lent term. 2 hour sessions. Assessment: 100% coursework.
Prerequisites
A basic engineering knowledge of electricity (first year undergraduate) and a familiarity with the units and notation associated with energy science and engineering is an advantage, but not essential. Assessment will be structured so as to be accessible to students from a range of backgrounds.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- provide students with a firm foundation in modern electricity policy with an emphasis on the UK.
- introduce students to a wide a variety of mature and emergent electricity generation and demand side technologies.
- expose students to the local, regional and global environmental effects of energy use.
- introduce the key considerations of energy policy and develops frameworks by which progress against policy goals may be achieved.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- generate scenarios for the future UK electricity system out to 2050
- evaluate and compare the efficacy of different electricity generation technologies
- critique current and future electricity policy
- appreciate how economics and engineering interact in a sustainable electricity system
Content
This module is a postgraduate module of Cambridge Judge Business School. It has its origins as an elective course of the MPhil in Technology Policy and the MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development. The module is of the standard size adopted in the Engineering Department and the Judge Business School, i.e. a nominal 16 hours. The course is delivered via one two-hour lecture each week for eight weeks.
Overview - Class Introduction - Michael Pollitt
Lecture 1
- History of Electrical Power and Energy Policy.
- Fundamentals of the UK and USA Electricity System.
- UK Energy Policy and Politics.
- Principles of good energy policy.
- Recent UK Energy White Papers.
Environmental Effects of Fossil Fuel Use and what to do about them (Michael Pollitt)
Lecture 2
- Local Emissions and Impacts
- Putting a Price on Damages?
- Economic approaches to externalities
- Pricing carbon
- Experiences of the EU Emissions Trading System and carbon pricing in Australia
Electricity Demand (Michael Pollitt)
Lecture 3
- Economics of Electricity Demand
- The economics of smart energy services
- Technological aspects of electricity demand
- Social aspects of electricity demand
- Demand side policy
Wind Energy (Jim Platts)
Lecture 4
- Attributes of wind power
- Technology and history
- Wind resources and grid integration
- UK and EU wind policy
- Wind turbine manufacture
Fossil fuel generation, storage and future electricity markets (Michael Pollitt)
Lecture 5
- Current status of fossil-fuel power generation
- Economics of Carbon Capture and Storage
- The economics of electricity storage
- Business models for the internet of energy
- Future electricity market design
Renewables and the Electricity System (Michael Pollitt)
Lecture 6
- Renewables context
- Potential for renewables in the UK
- Place of renewables in electricity system
- How to subsidise renewables
- Lessons from around the world
Electricity Networks (Richard McMahon)
Lecture 7
- Transmission and distribution system engineering considerations
- Design and operation
- History of the grid and legacy issues
- Distributed Generation
- High voltage DC and interconnection
Nuclear Power, Electricity Security and EU Policy (Michael Pollitt)
Lecture 8
- The economics of Nuclear Power
- Energy Security
- EU Energy Policy
- EU 2030 Targets
- Roadmap 2050
- Good electricity policy?
Coursework
| One piece of coursework in two parts | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
First part of coursework Use the UK 2050 calculator to generate own electricity related scenario. Learning objectives:
|
Individual report 1500 words anonymously marked |
20 March 2020 [50/100] |
|
Second part of coursework Essay on the 2030 decarbonisation challenge facing the UK electricity system. Learning objectives:
|
Individual Report 1500 words anonymously marked |
20 March 2020 [50/100] |
Booklists
Expected reading:
Grubb, M., Jamasb, T., and Pollitt, M.G. (eds.) (2008) Delivering a low-carbon electricity system. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Printed book at: JBS: TD195.E4 G72 2008 Engineering: DE.166
Ozawa, M., Chaplin, J., Pollitt, M., Reiner, D. and Warde, P. (eds.) (2019) In Search of Good Energy Policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Recommended reading:
Taylor, S. (2016) The Fall and Rise of Nuclear Power in Britain Cambridge: UIT Printed book at: JBS: HD9698.G72 T39 F3 2016 UL: C212.c.2239
Jamasb, T. and Pollitt, M. (eds.) (2011) The Future of Electricity Demand Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Printed book at: JBS: HD9685.G72 J35 2011 Engineering: DE.190 UL: 235.c.201.356 (South Front 6)
MacKay, D.J.C. (2009) Sustainable energy without the hot air. Cambridge: UIT E-book via withouthotair http://www.withouthotair.com/download.html Printed book at: Engineering: DE.164
HM Government 2050 Pathways analysis Report via DECC Publications http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/2050/2050.aspx
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
Last modified: 04/06/2019 11:01