Introduction to Energy and Material Analysis

Course goals

Learning goals:  

1. Understanding the concept of sustainability and the need for energy analysis.
2. Applying energy management methods to assess the impact of various characteristics for new energy technologies.
3. To build arguments for the most optimum scenarios, based on the calculation of carbon footprint for several sectors.
4. Understand how to analyze the economic feasibility of energy innovations based on energy gains.
5. Using Excel and/or Python coding for basic energy and material analysis.
6. Applying all the above-mentioned learning objectives in a concrete project as part of their assessment.

Content

The transition toward a carbon-neutral and circular economy demands concerted efforts across all levels and sectors of the economy. At micro and meso levels, companies, organizations, and sectors are therefore increasingly asked to make choices related to sustainable development. Yet, changing business operations is not always straightforward. It may necessitate significant transformations and innovations in existing processes. Multiple tools have been developed to identifying opportunities for energy conservation, improving resource utilization, and implementing sustainable practices.
In the "Energy and Material Analysis" course, students are introduced to the most relevant tools for energy and material analysis. The primary focus of this course lies in investigating the impacts of innovations implemented at the micro and meso levels, such as hospitals, factory complexes, and neighborhoods, specifically in terms of energy and material effects.
This course focuses on developing basic energy and material analysis that can then be applied to interdisciplinary innovation issues, e.g. in IP1 and IP2 courses.