Energy and Climate Policy

ENE467 Energy and Climate Policy

Spring 2024

  • Topics

    ENE467 consists of lectures and assignments based on the course topics. The assignments will be both analytical and simple modeling exercises, or estimation exercises in Excel.

    The following topics will be covered:

    1. Fossil fuels, CO2 emissions and economic growth in a historical perspective
    2. The trade-off: Economic growth versus reductions in CO2 emissions
    3. Renewable energy versus fossil fuels
    4. Near term costs versus long term benefits: the role of the discount rate
    5. Climate change in a historical perspective

  • Learning outcome

    Knowledge

    Upon successful completion the student knows

    • Development of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions in a historical perspective.
    • Recent developments in renewable energy.
    • The interdependence of economic growth and energy use, especially for developing countries.
    • How to evaluate long term future benefits and compare them to immediate costs.
    • How climate has varied in a historical perspective.
    • The importance of fossil fuels for economic development.
    • The potential and limits of renewable energy.

    Skills

    Upon successful completion the student

    • Will be able to discuss issues of climate change in relation to energy requirements, especially of developing countries.
    • Is able to support arguments by simple analytical and numerical models.
    • Will be able to formulate simple economic models in Excel.

    General competences

    Upon successful completion the student will have improved his/her

    • Analytical skills.
    • Ability to formulate and solve simple numerical models to deal with practical issues.

  • Teaching

    One week long intensive course with lectures and solution of exercises.

  • Recommended prerequisites

    Knowledge of basic calculus, basic statistics and simple modeling in Excel.

  • Required prerequisites

    Knowledge of basic calculus, basic statistics and simple modeling in Excel.

  • Credit reduction due to overlap

    None.

  • Compulsory Activity

    None.

  • Assessment

    Submission of five written assignments. Students can deliver answers individually or in groups of maximum five.

  • Grading Scale

    Pass-Fail

  • Computer tools

    Excel

  • Literature

    Lecture notes are meant to be largely sufficient, but supplementary literature will be provided.

Overview

ECTS Credits
2.5
Teaching language
English
Semester

Spring. Will be offered Spring 2024 (first week of the semester).

Course responsible

Professor Rögnvaldur Hannesson, Department of Business and Management Science