B9039 - RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND POLICY

Learning outcomes

The first part of the course covers the following topics: Economics of Energy Demand, Innovation and Energy Business Models, Path Dependence in Energy Systems, Exhaustible and renewable energy resources, Comparative energy systems. The second part of the course deals with public policies, their determinants and processes; taxes, subsidies and permits as tools for switching from dirty and non-renewable resources to clean and renewable resources; economic development and green growth policies. Finally, a case study is examined, i.e. Zero-energy buildings and the EU policies to achieve this objective.

Course contents

Starting from the comparison between thermal power and renewable energy technologies, the course focuses on the fundamentals of wind and solar energy, before addressing the challenges associated with the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources (RES), including flexibility and energy storage. The technological perspective is next complemented by the study of European energy and climate policies and the economics of renewable energy. The third component of the course brings these technological, economic and policy dimensions together through an integrated energy-system planning exercise. Students examine alternative scenarios by combining conventional generation, RES and storage, and assess their performance using technical, economic, environmental and energy security indicators. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the trade-offs between cost, renewable energy penetration, curtailment, CO₂ emissions, flexibility requirements and security of energy supply. Throughout the course, students apply the concepts introduced in class through quantitative exercises and group projects based on real-life data. The integrated planning exercise serves as the main semester project, allowing students to progressively combine the knowledge and computational methods developed during the course to formulate and systematically address a practical optimization and decision-making problem.

• Energy Systems: Thermal Power vs Renewable Energy
• Fundamentals of Wind Energy
• Fundamentals of Solar Energy
• Flexibility and Energy Storage
• EU Energy and Climate Policies
• Economics of Renewable Energy
• Integrated Energy-System Planning and Assessment

Readings/Bibliography

The course is based on lecture notes, scientific and technical literature, policy documents, datasets and supplementary material provided through the e-learning platform.

Teaching methods

The course combines theoretical lectures with applied case studies, quantitative tutorials and hands-on group work. Particular emphasis is placed on connecting the physical behavior of energy systems with their economic, environmental and policy implications. Students progressively apply the concepts introduced during the lectures through one or two mini-projects and an integrated semester project. Introductory material, templates and guided examples are provided as required.

Assessment methods

During the course, students work in groups on a series of applied mini-projects and an integrated semester project. Mini-projects are assessed through in-class presentations and discussion of the students’ work, while the semester project is assessed through a final group presentation and a written project report. Individual evaluation is based on each student’s engagement, participation and contribution during classes and project activities.

Teaching tools

The course combines theoretical lectures with a hands-on computational approach, allowing students to apply the concepts and methods introduced in class to practical energy problems. Students work with extended datasets and use Microsoft Excel, VBA and Python for energy modelling, simulation, optimization, scenario analysis, data processing and visualization. No prior programming experience is required, as the necessary computational tools and methods are introduced progressively through guided examples and hands-on exercises.

Office hours

See the website of Dimitrios Zafeirakis