Vertical A: New Energy Production Technologies
- Description
- Curriculum
- Reviews
The module delivers an extensive examination of emerging energy production technologies essential for global transition toward sustainability. It begins by analyzing current energy market structures, highlighting how fossil fuels still dominate global consumption (approximately 80% of primary energy supply) despite the rapid growth of renewable sources. The module then identifies fundamental limitations in the existing energy system, including the physics of climate change, fossil fuel dependencies, infrastructure lock-in challenges, energy access inequalities, storage limitations, and geopolitical risks associated with critical minerals. It provides detailed insights into necessary transition actions, from renewable expansion and electrification to efficiency improvements and clean infrastructure investments. A significant portion focuses on hydrogen’s multifaceted role as an energy carrier, distinguishing between production pathways (grey, blue, green, etc.) and examining electrolysis technologies while projecting cost reduction trajectories from current 4-6 USD/kg to below 2 USD/kg. The module also explores hydrogen applications across industrial, transportation, and power generation sectors. Additionally, it analyzes biomass contributions to energy transition, covering the carbon cycle advantages, EU policy frameworks (REDII/REDIII), production pathways, and sustainable feedstock availability projections for 2030 and 2050. The content concludes with discussions on carbon-negative approaches like biochar and sequestration techniques, emphasizing international coordination needs and cost reduction strategies for achieving net-zero targets.
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1.2A.1. Key Energy Markets TodayIn this lecture, Dr. Marta Gandiglio provides an overview of the global energy landscape, focusing on primary energy sources, current market trends, and the challenges of decarbonization. It covers the dominance of fossil fuels, the rise of renewables, the role of nuclear energy, and the difficulties in reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. It also examines the distinction between flow and stock energy sources, emphasizing the urgency of transitioning to cleaner energy solutions.
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1.2A. Quiz: Energy Markets -
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1.2A.2. Limitations & Needs of the Current Energy System
The lecture examines the limitations and urgent needs of the current energy system, focusing on climate change, energy transition strategies, and existing constraints. It highlights the role of greenhouse gas emissions in global warming, the key pillars of decarbonization, and the challenges posed by fossil fuel dependency, energy access inequality, storage limitations, and geopolitical risks linked to critical mineral supplies.
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1.2A. Quiz: Market Limitations
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1.2A.3. The Role of Hydrogen and Synthetic fuels
The lecture explores hydrogen's role in the energy transition, covering its production methods, storage and transport options, key applications in hard-to-abate sectors, and market outlook, with particular emphasis on green hydrogen as a flexible energy carrier for decarbonizing industries that cannot be directly electrified.
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1.2A. Quiz: Hydrogen & Synthetic Fuels
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1.2A.4 The Role of Biomass
The lecture explores the role of biomass in the energy transition, focusing on its carbon cycle, biofuel production technologies, and the potential for emissions reduction. It discusses EU and international policies regulating biofuels, sustainable feedstock availability, and the importance of advanced biofuels. The session also highlights biomass applications in transport and energy production, emphasizing its role in achieving carbon neutrality and supporting sustainable agriculture.
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1.2A. Quiz: Biomass
