ENGR621-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

Energy, Policy and Society

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

Understanding of the roles of key disciplines in energy engineering, including environmental and social aspects, as well as energy policy for the energy transition.

You will develop a critical understanding of the roles of key disciplines in energy engineering. This includes understanding complexities and compromises in energy engineering decision-making, including environmental and social aspects, as well as energy policy for the energy transition.

This is a research-led class focusing on the relationship of energy systems with the technologies they use and the societies in which they operate. It is designed to broaden your knowledge and skills to develop an appreciation of how engineering and other disciplines contribute to and interact in the energy field.

This is a recommended course in the Renewable Energy degree, and we also welcome students from a range of engineering, science, economics, social science, and other backgrounds with an understanding of quantitative methods.

Learning Outcomes

  • Discuss energy systems engineering from a multi-disciplinary lens.
  • Demonstrate high-level problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through the analysis and understanding of complex energy systems.
  • Understand the concepts of energy services, energy equity, and the impacts of emerging technologies.
  • Critically analyse historic, present, and emerging economic, business, and policy paradigms, particularly in relation to renewable energy.
  • Perform and critically evaluate life cycle analysis, energy payback time, and levelised cost of energy and of storage calculations.

Prerequisites

Subject to the approval of the Head of Department.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 14:00 - 16:00 E13 (19/2)
Ernest Rutherford 225 (26/2-2/4, 30/4-28/5)
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Presentation A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 10:00 - 13:00 E10
26 May - 1 Jun

Course Coordinator

Jannik Haas

Lecturer

Rebecca Peer

Assessment

The assessment for this course has three major components – discussions, a research project, and a presentation. Given the nature of this course, active participation during class lectures and discussions is required to succeed.

Discussions
Percentage of grade: 40%

Project
Percentage of grade: 60%

Total: 100%

The discussions will occur both on Learn and in class, for which assigned reading material needs to be prepared before each class. Each student is expected to participate in in-class activities, and the quality of preparation and participation will be assessed.

The major assessment for this course is a research project and an associated presentation. You will receive the details of the research project after the first two weeks of the course, and you are expected to integrate your learning from the entire semester into your final report.

Textbooks / Resources

Electronic copies of required readings, video recordings, and course resources will be provided through the course Learn page

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,268.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 8 people apply to enrol.

For further information see Civil and Natural Resources Engineering .

All ENGR621 Occurrences

  • ENGR621-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025