Course content

• Overview of Norway and the worlds energy situation
• Environmental challenges with energy production (CO2 and NOx emissions)
• Various forms of renewable energy (hydropower, wind power, solar power, bioenergy, wave power, tidal power, osmotic power, geothermal energy)
• Comparison of renewable energy with other forms of electricity production.
• Heat pumps, heat recovery, energy saving measures for buildings, passive houses and plus houses.
• Various forms of energy storage including batteries, hydrogen, pumped hydropower, compressed air, supercapacitors, and flywheels.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate has knowledge of

• different types of energy production and storage.
• Norwegian power supply and consumption, as well as the national and international energy situation.
• environmental challenges linked to energy production and consumption.
• different measures to improve energy efficiency.
• scientific research and development work in the field of Renewable Energy.

Skills: The candidate is capable of

• updating his or her own knowledge in the field through information gathering.
• applying knowledge to solve theoretical, technical and practical issues within the fields of energy production and storage.
• assessing energy and environmental consequences of different energy solutions.
• doing simple calculations on heating and cooling systems.
• finding, assessing, applying and citing information and academic material, and present this in a way that highlights issues within Renewable Energy.

General competence: The candidate is able to

• evaluate different methods for energy production and storage against each other.
• evaluate appropriate energy efficiency measures.

Learning methods and activities

The teaching-learning activities in this course are,

• team base learning,
• problem base learning (include case studies and exercises) and
• project base learning.

The first lecture covers an overview of the course, as well as course-specific information, such as the course structure, assignments, group work, assessment methods, expectations, and intended learning outcomes. As this lecture sets the foundation for the course, attendance is strongly recommended.

From the second lecture onward, the focus shifts entirely to course-specific teaching and guidance. These sessions include essential instructions, study materials, presentations, group activities, and exercises. these are all aimed at helping students meet the course objectives and develop the required competencies.

After completing the lecture sessions, we will transition to team-based learning, dividing the class into several project groups. Each group will work on a project throughout the remainder of the semester. The project topic will be assigned in class. This project work is designed to help students apply the knowledge gained from lectures and exercises in a practical context. Students will use appropriate digital tools, make informed and realistic decisions based on given case studies, and analyze the outcomes with relevance to energy and environmental issues, including personal reflection. The project will conclude with the submission of a scientific report or poster presentation.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Fundamental mathematics, physics and chemistry

Course materials

Compendium by Jacob Lamb, NTNU 2023.

Exercises (not obligatory)

Lecture presentations

Credit reductions