Program Overview

Course Overview

The course TEP4225, Energy and Environment, is an introduction to further studies in the Energy and Environment study program. It provides an overview and a broad understanding of the subject area, covering topics such as the environment as a framework for energy, energy resources and energy use, methods for energy conversion and environmental impacts, and more.

Course Content

The course content includes:

• The environment as a framework for energy
• Energy resources and energy use
• Methods for energy conversion and environmental impacts for electricity, heating, and cooling
• Heating and cooling methods and consequent environmental impacts
• Energy conversions in industry and buildings
• Energy flexibility and distribution of district heating
• Electrical energy, electricity as energy carrier and the infrastructure associated with this
• Electricity market and price formation
• Planning and sizing of energy supply
• Energy balance and environmental assessment

Learning Outcome

The course provides the student with knowledge about key challenges and technologies in energy use, utilization of energy resources, energy conversion, and environmental consequences. The student will gain insight into:

• The environment as a framework for energy use and the exploitation of energy resources
• An overview of energy resources and energy use
• Conversion methods for electric power and heating/cooling generation, and their consequences on the environment
• Energy efficiency in industry and buildings
• District heating systems
• Technology, distribution, and infrastructure in the Nordic electric power system
• How the system for electric power transmission is built up
• The trade in the Nordic electric power market (Nord Pool)
• Heat balance and energy supply for buildings
• Drivers for energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
• Life cycle thinking and environmental impacts from energy production
• Energy and the UN's sustainability goals

Skills

The course should enable students to use basic knowledge about different forms of conversion, transport, and use of electricity and heating/cooling to solve simple problems and to explain the relationship between the use of energy resources and environmental impacts.

General Competence

After completing the course, the student should have basic competence regarding environmental impacts arising from different energy carriers and technical solutions. The student should be able to apply this competence in further studies and work in teams.

Learning Methods and Activities

The course is structured around problem-based learning exercises and laboratory exercises, linked to introductory lectures by teachers and possibly invited professionals. The assessment includes problem-based learning exercises organized as group work, a presentation for other students, and a group report.

Compulsory Assignments

• Exercises
  • Laboratory exercises

Further Evaluation

Three problem-based assignments, organized as group work and rounded off with the presentation and submission of a report, are required. To pass, 70 out of 100 points are required for each problem-based learning exercise. In addition, laboratory exercises and demonstrations must be approved. For a re-take, all assessments during the course must be re-taken.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

It is advantageous to be skilled in using Microsoft Office, specifically Word and Excel. Use of Latex or OpenLeaf may also be useful to write good reports. Knowledge of some drawing tools is an advantage.

Required Previous Knowledge

None.

Course Materials

Compendium and literature surveys.

Credit Reductions

The course has academic overlap with SIO7005. If overlapping courses are taken, a credit reduction will be applied to the course with the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject Areas

• Energy and Process Engineering
  • Industrial Ecology
  • Industrial Economics
  • Electrical Power Engineering
  • Technological subjects

Examination

The examination arrangement is work, with a grade of Passed/Not Passed. The ordinary examination in Autumn 2025 consists of a work assignment with a weighting of 100/100, to be submitted by 18:00.

Course Details

• Credits: 7.5
• Level: Foundation courses, level I
• Course start: Autumn 2025
• Duration: 1 semester
• Language of instruction: Norwegian
• Location: Trondheim