Introduction to the Energy Transition



Overview

Introduction to the Energy Transition covers an increasingly important issue with respect to climate change, ecology, energy policies, supply disruption, and competition for energy.

This course examines existing energy and fuel use, as well as infrastructure, for the major sources in use globally. Innovation is producing evolving technologies, which have their own implementation challenges. The costs and benefits of each of the major energy sources are examined in order to understand how best to manage and meet growing energy demands. Strategies to assist in global aspirations for Net Zero are also covered.

This course aims to give students a holistic view of the opportunities and challenges involved in ensuring energy accessibility, reliability, security, and sustainability.

Programme details

Courses starts: 24 Jan 2025

Week 1: Introduction to The Energy Transition

Week 2: Biomass and Coal

Week 3: Oil and Gas

Week 4: Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Week 5: Wind and Water

Half Term Break - No class on Friday 28 February

Week 6: Sun and Earth

Week 7: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Week 8: Storage and Electrification

Week 9: Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Capture

Week 10: The Path to Net Zero 

Certification

Credit Application Transfer Scheme (CATS) points 

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee for each course you enrol on. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. If you do not register when you enrol, you have up until the course start date to register and pay the £30 fee. 

See more information on CATS point

Coursework is an integral part of all online courses and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework, but only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard. 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. 

 

Digital credentials

All students who pass their final assignment, whether registered for credit or not, will be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. 

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

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

Tutor

Dr Suman Chowdhury

Dr Suman Chowdhury holds a doctorate in geophysics from the University of Oxford.  He has over two decades of experience in the energy industry, spanning three continents.

Dr Chowdhury is a Fellow of both the Geological Society and the Royal Astronomical Society.

Course aims

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.

Teaching methods

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

 

Learning outcomes

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.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

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 the required standard.

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

 

Application

We will close for enrolments 14 days prior to the start date to allow us to complete the course set up. We will email you at that time (14 days before the course begins) with further information and joining instructions. As always, students will want to check spam and junk folders during this period to ensure that these emails are received.

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

Level and demands

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.

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

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.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support