Energy – Technologies, Business, Regulations

Catalog description

This course will cover energy – the technologies that produce, store, transmit, and use the energy that provides heat, light, and mobility to modern society; the businesses that provide those services; and the regulations that govern energy activities. The state of the world and US energy systems will be described, as well as the drivers to improve their environmental, economic, and security aspects. The abilities of current and nascent technologies and business models to satisfy those drivers will also be discussed. A variety of government and private sector reports will serve as texts, supplemented by the original research literature and media coverage. This course should be of interest (and accessible) to students interested in climate science, sustainability, energy technologies, energy businesses, and energy policies. Prerequisites are only numeracy, simple algebra, basic calculus, and general science knowledge. Graduate standing or departmental permission.