GEO3-13487.5 ECTSQ3EnglishBachelor
Sustainable solutions (the role of earth sciences in the energy transition)
FaculteitFaculty of Geosciences
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
In this course, you will learn the basis to recognize and understand the role of earth sciences in the energy transition, both in the Netherlands and an international context. With our energy consumption ever growing, and the need to mitigate climate change, we are increasingly turning to the subsurface to help us solve the energy mix puzzle. As we move away from fossil fuels, what technological solutions are currently being considered, and how can earth scientists help in assessing their potential and associated risks? In this course, you will be introduced to topics such as geothermal energy production, critical minerals for the energy transition, CO2 storage, renewable energy storage (hydrogen fuel), and radioactive waste storage. Every technological solution is presented in the context of the relevant coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical and chemical (THMC) processes impacting it, to provide a solid understanding, and is supported by a relevant practical activity.
By the end of the course, you will know how to implement earth sciences to assess the impact and safety of technological solutions aided to tackle societal challenges, including the timescales on which each of these solutions will be relevant. This in the end should lead to a reflection on what this will mean for shaping the subsurface landscape and the contributions earth sciences can make to guide that process.
The course is primarily designed for students interested in geo-energy, geological storage and geotechnical engineering in the context of Earth materials studies and transport/flow, or planning to embark on the Master Programme in Earth Structure and Dynamics. However, it will also be valuable to students interested in sustainability-related topics in the context of geochemistry, sedimentology, hydrogeology, structural geology and/or geophysics.
By the end of the course, you will know how to implement earth sciences to assess the impact and safety of technological solutions aided to tackle societal challenges, including the timescales on which each of these solutions will be relevant. This in the end should lead to a reflection on what this will mean for shaping the subsurface landscape and the contributions earth sciences can make to guide that process.
The course is primarily designed for students interested in geo-energy, geological storage and geotechnical engineering in the context of Earth materials studies and transport/flow, or planning to embark on the Master Programme in Earth Structure and Dynamics. However, it will also be valuable to students interested in sustainability-related topics in the context of geochemistry, sedimentology, hydrogeology, structural geology and/or geophysics.
Content
- Past uses of the subsurface: extraction of materials (fluids, minerals) for (energy) consumption; impact of human activities on society
- Transitioning to a more sustainable use of resources: energy transition and new green deal; sustainable solutions and requirements; role of THMC processes
- Geothermal energy production: concept; challenges; Dutch vs. international scenarios
- Critical mineral mining: essential metals for the energy transition; methods of mining (conventional and sustainable)
- Temporary storage of hydrogen fuel: concept; methods of storage; challenges and opportunities
- Large-scale CO2 storage: concept; storage in aquifers vs. depleted fields; upscaling and opportunities
- Radioactive waste storage: storage concept in clays, rocksalt or granite; opportunities in NL
- Shaping the subsurface landscape: impact of multiple, different subsurface activities aiming for the same space; role of earth scientists in shaping the subsurface landscape
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