ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

000110L

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2022/2023

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Disciplinary Sector:

Commodity Studies

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

RAGGI Andrea

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

153

Prerequisites:

There is no prerequisite for this course.

Objectives

This module aims at providing students with the skills and the tools that are necessary to deal with the problems related to energy management in a typically interdisciplinary way as a critical factor in the economic system. In particular, an in-depth study of technical and scientific knowledge (with emphasis on environmental aspects) related to energy resources and processes is intended for a better understanding of the related economic aspects.
Expected learning outcomes: 1) Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge and understanding of the problems related to energy management as a critical factor of the economic system, with special focus on environmental issues; 2) Applying knowledge and understanding: Learning of some approaches and tools in order to face the issues of energy management; 3) Making judgements: Acquisition of a critical approach when it comes to the consideration of energy resources and systems and their related strengths and weaknesses, both at a technical-environmental and an economic level; 4) Communication skills: Ability to report technical and economic aspects in energy resources management in an adequate way, as well as the environmental impacts associated with them; 5) Learning skills: Ability to analyse energy resources and their management in an independent way.

Contents

The course begins with an introduction to the energy problem and then the various forms and sources of energy are defined. A broad overview is then carried out of the reserves, production, consumption and trade of the various energy sources by geopolitical regions and the related trends. In the second part, the technical-economic issues of the conventional (coal, oil, natural gas) and renewable (hydro, solar, wind, biomass, etc.) energy sources are analysed, with particular emphasis on the environmental aspects and impacts of the related energy systems. Finally, the course closes with an introduction to the structure of the electric market and energy policy.

Extended Syllabus

- The energy problem: present and future. Evolution of reserves, production and consumption of the main fossil and renewable energy resources worldwide and regionally.
- Introductory concepts and definitions: energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, forms of “internal” energy of a system, unit of measurement of energy. Power and related unit of measurement; interpretation of energy from a macroscopic point of view. Microscopic interpretation of work and energy; the laws of thermodynamics, energy transformations and irreversibility.
- Review of the main pollutants connected to energy systems and related environmental impacts.
- The cycle of coal. Extraction and preparation: main technologies and related impacts. Transport and handling: methods, problematic aspects and related countermeasures. Main combustion technologies for the electricity production, related pollutants and pollution reduction and/or prevention technologies. Coal processing. Dry distillation; gasification; liquefaction; "clean" coal. Carbon Capture and Sequestration.
- The cycle of oil and natural gas. Main impacts related to the extraction of crude oil and natural gas. Non-conventional hydrocarbons. Transport and processing of fossil hydrocarbons. Combustion for electricity production: main technologies; steam turbine, gas turbine and combined gas-steam cycle.
- Introduction to the use of biomass for energy purposes. Energy accumulation in biomass. Main limits and advantages of the use of energy biomass. Main thermochemical and biochemical transformations of raw biomass.
- Solar energy. Solar constant. Albedo. Power density and average insolation on the ground. Direct and diffused component of solar radiation. Thermodynamic solar. Main solar concentration technologies. Parabolic mirrors in point and linear focus. Main solar concentration technologies: mirror field with central tower. Low temperature thermal solar: flat solar collectors and vacuum tube collectors. Photovoltaic power generation.
- Wind energy. Direction and wind speed. Mechanical power contained in the moving air. Operation of wind machines. Vertical axis machines, horizontal axis machines. Air flow through the rotor. Electricity produced by an aerogenerator. Wind farms. Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.
- Overview of other energy transformation technologies.
- Transformation of the structure of the electricity market (from monopoly-based to competitive) and of the product "electricity" (from commodity to diversified mix of services). The role of distributed generation (DG) in the new context of the electricity market. Examination of some peculiarities of the DG. Opportunities related to the development of the DG and limits to its dissemination. Energy policy measures for the promotion of DG.

Recommended Bibliography

The study material will be indicated by the Professor during the lectures (alternatively: please ask the Professor during the office days and hours or by e-mail).
Further reading:
-Narbel, Hansen & Lien, Energy Technologies and Economics, Springer, 2014
-Gasch & Twele, Wind Power Plants: Fundamentals, Design, Construction and Operation, 2nd Edition, Springer, 2012
- Clô, Energia e clima Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017
- Armaroli, Balzani, Energia per l'astronave terra, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2017
- ENEA, Rapporto Annuale Efficienza Energetica 2021. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, 2021, downloadable free of charge at: https://www.pubblicazioni.enea.it/component/jdownloads/?task=download.se...
- ENEA, Rapporto Energia e Ambiente. Scenari e Strategie. Verso un’Italia low carbon:
sistema energetico, occupazione e investimenti. Executive Summary, 2013, downloadable free of charge at: http://www.enea.it/it/pubblicazioni/pdf-rea/rea-executivesummary2013.pdf
- ENEA, Analisi trimestrale del sistema energetico italiano – Anno 2021, n. 1/2022, downloadable free of charge at: https://www.pubblicazioni.enea.it/component/jdownloads/?task=download.se...

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Active teaching methods will be favoured as far as possible, with case studies and/or analysis of scientific articles, multimedia study aids, specialised software demonstration, group work and simulations, visits and seminars.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam consists in an oral interview aimed at verifying the learning, the conceptual mastery, the vocabulary and the ability to interpret and synthesise. The examination questions include both descriptive and critical elements. Grading uses a 30-point scale.

Contacts/More Information

E-mail: a.raggi@unich.it
Office days and hours: to be defined at the beginning of the course.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree