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MSFS-640 Energy in a Low-Carbon World
Spring only
Banks, John
This course is designed to present students with an introduction to the key issues and challenges confronting government policy-makers and business leaders in global energy. The course focuses on the impacts and intersection of emerging but potentially transformational events:
1. Forecasts of rising global energy demand, especially for fossil fuels
2. Growing concern about the dangers posed to US and global security by global climate change (GCC), especially the role and impact of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use in the energy sector
3. Supply-side challenges in moving to low carbon sources for power generation and transportation
4. Demand-side challenges, especially in achieving greater energy efficiency
5. The changing dynamics of international oil and gas markets
6. The potential convergence of the transportation sector with electricity
7. Challenges posed by, and potential impacts of, critical geopolitical regional “hotspots”
With a growing consensus on the science, causes and impacts of global climate change (GCC), especially since the issuance of the Fourth Assessment Report of the UN Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007, a lively policy debate has emerged on how to meet the world’s energy and economic needs, while at the same time protecting the environment. A cornerstone of this debate centers on how to de-carbonize the power and transportation sectors. There has been renewed interest in low carbon technologies such as wind and solar, nuclear power, and clean coal technologies such as carbon capture and storage, as well as greater attention being paid to energy efficiency and natural gas.
Nevertheless, despite a growing global consensus on the need to reduce carbon emissions, use of coal proceeds apace with India and China developing new coal-fired power generation at an alarming rate. Simultaneously, recent oil price volatility has fueled debate over the future direction of the oil industry, and its impact on economic performance and competitiveness of alternative fuels.
In addition, a variety of regional energy issues are emerging to play a more critical role in the policy picture, for example: the importance of China and India and their energy policy to handle booming economic development; the role of Russia as an energy superpower, its impact on European energy security, and inter-relationship with Central Asian oil and gas infrastructure, and; the emergence of several other key countries and regions in the global energy industry.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Course syllabi
The following syllabi may help you learn more about this course (login required):
Spring '10:
Banks J
(file download)
Additional syllabi may be available in prior academic years.
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Other academic years
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