Introduction to the Energy Transition

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

To provide a basic understanding of the topic of the energy transitionin progress today.

Course objectives: 

• To provide a basic understanding of the major energy sources used today.
• To provide a basic understanding of the reasons behind the policies of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, using a cost-and-benefit approach.
• To provide an understanding of Net Zero goals, and strategies to achieve them.

• Presentations on Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Practical demonstrations.
• Use of video presentations.
• Quizzes.
• Class or group discussions/activities.

By the end of the course, students will be expected be able to:

• list and describe the main features and components of the global energy system;
• describe each of the major energy and fuel types, and understand their relative costs-and-benefits;
• demonstrate an understanding of the reasons behind the present-day energy transition goals;
• describe strategies for energy storage and distribution;
• discuss Net Zero goals and strategies.

All students taking the course are expected to complete the following coursework: five assignments comprised of short questions designed to reinforce the concepts presented in class OR short essays of up to 500 words. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

The course will cover the basic material and references will be provided for further reading. Books and articles are expected to be available at local libraries, at the Dept for Continuing Education Library at Rewley House, or online. Students may also purchase books for self-study at their own discretion.

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)