Course - Energy and Sustainability - TEP4111
Energy and Sustainability
About
About the course
Course content
Energy plays an important role in everyday life, starting from the morning breakfast after a hot shower. We interact with different forms of energy during the day knowingly or unknowingly. A good example is an "electric toothbrush," do you wonder how it works? We use electrical energy to charge the small battery (energy storage) placed inside the casing that powers the electric motor, which rotates the brush through crank and gear mechanism (converting to mechanical energy). Traditional categories of energy are mechanical, thermal, electrical, and chemical. The predominant forms of energy are thermal and mechanical, or energy converted using a mechanical device. Energy conversion using mechanical devices has been explored since ancient times; one such example is the use of the kinetic energy of wind to sail a boat. Presently, a high emphasizes is placed upon the environment and sustainability, where energy storage and conversion are more important than a decade ago. Furthermore, consequences of climate change are clearly visible, where the source of energy, methods for energy generation, storage and conversion are key drivers to achieve the goals of the green transition globally.
This course is tailored to the study program Mechanical Engineering (MTEK). The study program MTEK comprises of courses in the field of mechanical engineering, renewable energy- and process engineering. This course provides fundamental knowledge on important topics of energy and sustainability, which creates the foundation for the advanced courses in subsequent years.
We will cover the following topics in the logical order of increasing complexity.
- Energy sources, classifications, and historical developments
- Renewable energy (Wind, Solar, Hydro, Biomass, Hydrogen)
- Energy conversion and storage (thermal storage and electricity)
- Energy demand and focus on energy efficiency in the food- and process sector
- Life cycle analysis, environmental impact, sustainability, carbon footprint
- Societal perspectives on energy, green transition, including United Nation Sustainable Development Goals
Some of the topics are introductory level, and others are at analysis, and critical reflection level. We will also learn about the ethical aspects and reflections when it comes to making well-informed choices relevant to the environment, sustainability, energy generation, transportation, and societal impact.
The aim of the course is to lay the foundation for advanced courses by raising the students’ fundamental understanding of renewable energy and environmental impact. The course serves as an introduction to sustainability analysis in the context of energy conservation, utilization, storage, and transportation, providing opportunities to consider ethical aspects of the energy transition, and to make well-informed choices by calibrating the available facts, government policies and societal view.
Learning outcome
1. Competence
The desired competences are built on sufficient mastery of component skills, together with sufficient mastery of desired or required knowledge.
After the completion of the course the candidate will be able to…
- carry out life cycle analysis by considering the academic knowledge of energy generation, conversion, and storage techniques;
- carry out carbon footprint analysis of process and systems using simplified engineering approaches and reflect on the potential outcome;
- use the knowledge of basic heat pump-, battery- and bioenergy technology to analysis energy storage solutions and apply them as transitional tools towards a low carbon sustainable society with a significant reduction of the total environmental impact;
- analyze process engineering systems in the context of energy and present alternative solutions with some degree of certainty, though scientific analysis;
- engage constructively in a scientific discussion relevant to the future energy need, transition, and storage.
2. Skills
After the completion of the course the candidate will be able to…
- apply academic knowledge to calculate the essential parameters of electrochemical energy storage systems;
- interpret the scenario of energy storage and analyze the environmental impact and sustainability aspects of lithium-ion batteries;
- carry out the preliminary computation and academically demonstrate the biogas production technique;
- compute the carbon footprint of selected cases in mechanical engineering and reflect upon the computed value, allow the candidate to make well-informed choices;
- interpret the scenario of thermal energy storage integrated in both cooling and heating processes and analyze the sustainability aspect of utilizing natural working fluids for these storage devices;
- to estimate the energy efficiency of equipment and processes to be able to further support the green transition required to secure a globally sustainable society;
- analyze and interpret the different components of product life and sustainability, based on sufficient mastery of methods used for life cycle analysis in the context of mechanical engineering;
- work in a group and make a scientific presentation based on identified public information including scientific work. In addition, the student will be able to document the work in a scientific report using Microsoft office tools.
3. Knowledge
After the completion of the course the candidate will be able to…
- classify major aspects of energy according to the sources and describe their production techniques, storage possibilities, and conversion principles;
- classify electrochemical batteries and be able underline the potential scope in the context of sustainability and environmental impact;
- list and explain environmentally harmless (clean) working fluids applied to refrigeration and heat pumping systems;
- explain the carbon footprint of a process and be able to identify the potential components causing a high impact on environment;
- list the UN sustainable goals and underline potential components. The candidate will be able to interpret policies on climate neutrality and the green transition, and reflect on the current and future policies required.
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 very first lecture focuses on (1) Maskin og Energiteknologi programme specific information such as, programme overview, specialization courses in subsequent years and potential career paths, and (2) course specific information such as course structure, assignments, group work, assessment, expectations and learning outcome. Therefore, it is desirable to attend the first lecture.
The second and subsequent lectures focus on course specific teaching and guidance. The classroom lectures provide essential instructions, study materials, presentations, group work, exercises to accomplish the course objectives and to attain the required competence. The students will attend physical classrooms, face-to-face, both lectures and exercises. Some of the teaching may be either fully digital (real-time streaming or recorded video) or flipped classroom depending on learning content and available resources.
After completing the lectures, we will use team base learning, where we will divide the class into several groups. Guideline for the formation of the team (project group) will be given during the classroom. The groups will carry out the project work during the remaining part of the semester. Topics of the project work will be distributed in the classroom. The project work will allow students to apply the knowledge gained through classroom lectures and exercises. The students will use suitable applications (digital tools), make well-informed realistic choices of given case studies, and interpret the outcome/results relevant to energy and environment (including own reflection). This will culminate in a written scientific report and a group presentation.
In this course, we arrange field and laboratory exercises depending on the availability of resources and logistic. These are recommended exercises as it offers an opportunity to learn about the real-life challenges related to energy and environment in the context of state-of-the-art research in the field of renewable energy. All students are expected to join and carry out the exercises.
Compulsory assignments
- Exercises
Further on evaluation
- There will be six main exercises, and a minimum of five exercises must be approved to qualify for the final examination. The exercises are aimed to apply theoretical concepts learnt in the corresponding week and to solve academic problems or provided test cases. These exercises will help to develop problem solving, mathematical, analytical and critical thinking skills. Assessment criteria for the exercises will be presented and discussed in the classroom. The exercises are distinct from each other; therefore, there may be the possibility of different assessment criteria and a requirement of minimum points for each exercise.
- Students carry out the project work in a group during the semester. The project report in prescribed scientific format must be delivered to the examination system before the deadline. Project presentation is mandatory and it is part of the project work. Specific requirements and criteria for the project report and the presentation will be given in the classroom.
- Students, who have not completed and approved the five exercises, will not qualify for the project presentation and for the project report submission.
- Students, who have not carried out the project work and have not submitted the project report, will not qualify for the final examination.
- Students must pass both the project work and the final examination to pass the course.
Conditions
- Students enrolled to (1) Mechanical Engineering (MTMASKIN) (2) Industrial Economics and Technology Management (MTIØT) study program are allowed to enroll in this course.
- In case of retaking the final examination,
- the examination may be converted to the oral examination;
- exercises approved in the previous term may be approved again. Partially approved exercises will not be considered;
- previously earned project grade may be approved again.
- Retaking the project work is not allowed. An exception may be granted if a student fails in the previous project work. In this case, the student must carry out the project in the autumn semester along with regular class, complete the project presentation and submit the project report. The grade earned in the previous written examination may be approved again to pass the course.
- If a student would like to retake the entire course again, the student must complete the exercises, project work and final examination in the autumn semester.
- In case of change of study program and migrating to MTMASKIN or MTIØT,
- the credit may be approved if there is substantial similarity in the equivalent course contents (including learning outcome, project work and exercises) of the former study program. The student must document and show (prove) the learning outcome of the equivalent course with respect to TEP4111. The decision of credit approval/rejection will be taken case by case, and it does not guarantee credit acceptance;
- project work (or partial work/learning) from any other course will not be approved;
- credit from the equivalent course outside of NTNU will not be approved
Specific conditions
Admission to a programme of study is required:
Industrial Economics and Technology Management (MTIØT) - some programmes
Mechanical Engineering (MTMASKIN)
Course materials
The study material in this course may be combination of following materials:
- Book sections (chapter)
- Presentations and audio-video lectures
- Compendium and lecture notes
- Academic case studies
- Research articles related to the environment and sustainability
- Policy documents related to the UN sustainable development goals, green shift, and the energy transition.
Subject areas
- Energy and Process Engineering
- Technological subjects
Contact information
Course coordinator
Lecturers
Department with academic responsibility
Examination
Examination
Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025
School exam
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.