IRMGR40418 Energy Technology, Policy and Sustainability (Spring 2021)

Energy technology, 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 Science technology and innovation studies (STIS) approach which will equip students with the analytical tools necessary to critically evaluate key energy technology and policy debates in Norway, Europe and globally. STIS is the study of how social, political, and cultural values affect science, technology and innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture.

Knowledge:

The student

• understands relevant concepts and frameworks from Science, Technology and Innovation Studies and their application to energy technology transformation
• can identify and evaluate relevant technologies
• is able to analyze key policy and societal debates shaping transition pathways to low carbon and sustainable energy systems.

Skills:

The student

• can find and use arguments and information on different energy technology options and can critically evaluate such material
• can critically evaluate new business models and innovation in shaping transition pathways to low carbon and sustainable energy systems.

General competence:

The student

• can critically evaluate contributions to debates on energy technology issues, and decisions on them
• can contribute to innovation processes
• is able to find information on different energy technology options, and critically evaluate such material.

The lecture series is divided into four parts:

• Part 1 introduces historical case studies and relevant concepts and frameworks from the STIS field
• Part 2 introduces key debates around a range of relevant technologies
• Part 3 discusses the transition towards sustainable and lower carbon energy systems, new business models and innovation
• Part 4 explores key debates seen from an industry perspective

Parts 1-3 are organized as a combination of introductory lectures, seminars and workshops. Part 4 is organized as a project with regional industry.

72 hours individual written home assignment.

Grades from A to F, where A is the best grade, E is the lowest passed grade, and F is failed.

• Bijker, W. E., Hughes, T. P., & Pinch, T. (Red.). (2012). The social construction of technological systems: new directions in the sociology and history of technology (Anniversary ed). Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
• Hinrichs-Rahlwes, R. (Red.). (2013). Sustainable energy policies for Europe: towards 100% renewable energy. Leiden, The Netherlands: CRC Press/Balkema.
• International Energy Agency. (2017). Energy technology perspectives. 2017.
• Karnøe, P., & Garud, R. (2012). Path Creation: Co-creation of Heterogeneous Resources in the Emergence of the Danish Wind Turbine Cluster. European Planning Studies, 20(5), 733-752. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2012.667923