Undergraduate Course: Energy Policy and Sustainability (SCSU10003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Energy Policy and Sustainability provides students with an understanding of contemporary societal and policy debates around key energy technologies in the context of the transition towards more sustainable and lower carbon energy systems. The course will take a distinctive STIS approach which will equip students with the analytical tools necessary to critically evaluate key energy technology and policy debates in the UK, Europe and globally. |
| Course description |
Energy Policy and Sustainability provides students with an understanding of contemporary societal and policy debates around key energy technologies in the context of the transition towards sustainable and lower carbon energy systems. The course will take a distinctive STIS approach which will equip students with the analytical tools necessary to critically evaluate key energy technology and policy debates in the UK, Europe and globally.
Relevant concepts and frameworks from the STIS field will be introduced in order to unpack the complex relationships between energy technologies, actors and institutions. Students will be encouraged to look beyond deterministic accounts of energy system change, and to have an understanding of the range of societal actors shaping sustainable energy transition pathways.
The lecture series is divided into two parts: in lectures 1-5 students will be introduced to key debates around a range of relevant technologies, including renewables, gas, nuclear power and end-use technologies. Students taking a planned 10 credit masters course called ¿Introduction to Energy Policy and Politics¿ will also participate in these lectures. Lectures 6-10 will focus on cross-technology thematic issues such as energy sector liberalisation and multi-level governance of energy systems.
Example topics to be covered in the lectures include:
¿ The political economy of renewable energy
¿ Perspectives on the role of gas in a low carbon future
¿ Risk, uncertainty and the shaping of nuclear power
¿ Innovations in end use technologies and ¿smarter¿ demand
¿ The role of the state and market in liberalised energy systems
¿ Multi-level governance of energy systems
¿ Contested futures: Analysing low carbon transition pathways
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have an understanding of key policy and societal debates shaping transition pathways to low carbon and sustainable energy systems
- Can critically evaluate contributions to debates on energy technology issues, and decisions on them
- Have an understanding of relevant concepts from Science, Technology and Innovation Studies and their application to energy system transformation
- Can identify and evaluate a selection of techniques and procedures used in energy policy analysis, decision-making and assessment
- Have developed their skills in finding and using arguments and information on different energy options and in critically evaluating such material
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Energy, Sustainable, Low Carbon, Policy, Innovation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ronan Bolton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6394
Email: |
Course secretary | |
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