Course content

Which smart business models can enable the energy sector to transition towards a zero-carbon future? How to manage and integrate renewable energy technologies?

The energy sector is responsible for 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it needs to change to meet climate targets. This is posing many interesting challenges and opportunities.

The fastest growing electricity production, solar and wind, is irregular and uncontrollable. Therefore, flexibility and storage technologies are needed to meet demand for electric power at any given time, or to reduce or shift demand to when supply is available.

In current EU policy, consumers are mobilized to play an active role in the energy system. Prosumers are active consumers who also produce or store energy. All households in Norway have smart meters, which allows them to use apps to manage their thermostat or car charging to save money.

In contrast, energy access is not a given in all countries. About a quarter of the world's population is not connected to a (reliable) power grid. Food stoves using wood, coal or fuels are not environmentally friendly and cause health problems. Solar panels, small-scale wind power, or waste gasification can be cost-effective, but there is a need for education and management to implement these technologies.

Join this engaging EiT village to develop renewable energy management projects that propose innovative solutions that accelerate the transition of net-zero energy systems. This EiT village will develop innovative ideas coming from you along with the guidance of experts in the field.

For further information, see www.ntnu.edu/eit and www.ntnu.edu/eit/course-description

Learning outcome

The village theme description is broad so that student teams can take their own interpretation and project objectives. Each team develops their own research topic inspired by for example: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, conflicts between renewables and nature, new opportunities created by artificial intelligence, lacking sustainable behavior in society, or many other topics. For some student projects, the work in the village may lead to a patent application or scientific paper publication, internship opportunities, or it will be continued in their master's project and thesis. Energy is one of NTNU's five strategic thematic areas. NTNU is involved in many large-scale research projects in the energy area. There will be guest lectures from NTNU and SINTEF researchers and industrial actors showing how smart energy management can address highly relevant challenges in the energy system. The guest lecturers and other external institutions tend to be project partners on the student projects and ideas.

Related links:

• www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
• www.ntnu.edu/ntrans
• www.ntnu.edu/energytransition
• https://www.ntnu.edu/employees/pedro.crespodelgranado
• https://www.ntnu.no/ansatte/stian.backe
• https://fmezen.no
• https://www.sintef.no/en/sintef-energy/

Compulsory assignments

• Attended all course days
• Oral presentation
• Preparation of a cooperation agreement

Recommended previous knowledge

Interdisciplinary curiosity is wanted to develop better and smarter energy innovations to integrate renewable energy technologies. This includes business ideas, ecological impact, management systems, engineering processes, app concepts, sharing platforms, artificial intelligence, and innovative technologies to support the green energy transition. All disciplines and backgrounds are welcome, and we encourage strong commitment and passion towards the energy transition.