Last modified: 20 Jun 2025 15:13
This course will constitute an introduction to the complex issue of energy transition. The aim of the course will be to equip students with an understanding of the energy transition as a grand challenge which societies and economies must face to help make the world more sustainable and to address climate change. The course will consist of two parts – one delivered by academic staff and one by TotalEnergies Professeurs Associés – a non-profit association linked with the TOTAL Energies company.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course will constitute an introduction to the complex issue of energy transition. The aim of the course will be to equip students with an introductory understanding of the energy transition as one of the grand challenges which societies and economies must face to help make the world more sustainable and to address climate change. The course will offer an overview of various terms and concepts associated with the energy transition, the complex relations between the energy transition and climate change, and the increasingly important role of various sources of renewable energy. Students will be provided with an ability to think critically about the challenges associated with an effective transition to greener energy, and the possible impacts of and barriers to such a transition in various contexts. Basic renewable energy technologies will be discussed, with a focus on their intermittent nature and uneven distribution across the world.
The course will consist of two main parts. The first part will be delivered online. It will consist of online lectures and an online, self-assessed test. This part will be delivered by the School of Engineering.
The second part will be delivered by TotalEnergies Professeurs Associés – a non-profit association of teachers and professors in the field of energy, associated with the TOTAL Energies company. TPA will deliver this part of the course based on the contract between TOTAL Energies and the Centre for Energy Transition at the University of Aberdeen. Their contribution will have the form of a one-week block of teaching.
In this respect, the course will offer two different views on energy transition – an academic and conceptual one on the one hand, and a more factual, business-related on the other. As such, the course will allow students to critically engage in various issues associated with energy transition and juxtapose various views on this important grand challenge of our times.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 17,18 | Feedback Weeks | 17,18 | |
| Feedback |
Towards the end of Part 2 students will deliver a presentation in groups based on the material presented in Part 2. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To critically understand the complex relationships between energy transition and the economy, environment and society |
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the concept of, and the need for, an effective transition to greener sources of energy, and to understand the complex relationship between energy transition and climate change |
| Conceptual | Understand | To become familiar with various sources of renewable energy and the key terminology and concepts related to renewable energy sources and technologies |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 21 | Feedback Weeks | 24,25 | |
| Feedback |
This 2,000-word essay will be the final assessment on the course and it will rely on the material presented in both parts of the course. |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To critically understand the complex relationships between energy transition and the economy, environment and society |
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the concept of, and the need for, an effective transition to greener sources of energy, and to understand the complex relationship between energy transition and climate change |
| Conceptual | Understand | To become familiar with various sources of renewable energy and the key terminology and concepts related to renewable energy sources and technologies |
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 13,14 | Feedback Weeks | 13,14 | |
| Feedback |
An online test (with multiple choice questions) will be set up and made available to students once they have viewed all lectures of Part 1. Feedback will be communicated via MyAberdeen. The deadline for completing the test will be Week 14. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To critically understand the complex relationships between energy transition and the economy, environment and society |
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the concept of, and the need for, an effective transition to greener sources of energy, and to understand the complex relationship between energy transition and climate change |
| Conceptual | Understand | To become familiar with various sources of renewable energy and the key terminology and concepts related to renewable energy sources and technologies |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
If the whole group fails, then the whole group will be given a chance to present again. If only one member of the group fails, an individual presentation of the same length will be organised for them. In each case, the mark will be capped at D3 / 9. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Resubmission of an individual essay with the mark capped at D3 / 9. |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To understand the concept of, and the need for, an effective transition to greener sources of energy, and to understand the complex relationship between energy transition and climate change |
| Conceptual | Understand | To become familiar with various sources of renewable energy and the key terminology and concepts related to renewable energy sources and technologies |
| Conceptual | Understand | To critically understand the complex relationships between energy transition and the economy, environment and society |
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