Sustainable Energy Technologies and Planning

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Planning

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Planning

Summer school, August 2010 in Copenhagen and Aalborg

The core focus of this summer school will be the on-going transition of the energy system in Denmark towards being 100% based on renewable energy, and with significant improvements of energy efficiency and with development of new technologies.

Traditionally, the energy system has been understood as consisting of a supply and demand side – linked via distribution channels, and the main aim was to secure sufficient energy in order to support economic growth and welfare in society.

This rather linear understanding supply-distribution-demand is undergoing radical changes in several ways at the moment:

1)The “demand side” is becoming an active and integrated part of the energy system

Intelligent buildings, energy+ houses, energy efficiency of products, etc. mean that the energy need is reduced and that the “demand side” is becoming active part of the energy system that in periods deliver energy and storage potential. Building and construction is responsible for 405 of energy consumption, so energy efficiency is crucial in this sector. Electric vehicles has in the same way the potential to become an integrated part of the energy system that can deliver storage of excess renewable energy and even supply to the grid during peak hours of demand.

2)Energy supply based on 100% renewable energy

15 years back the precondition in energy planning of the utilities was that the western part of Denmark should be supplied with electricity from 6 power stations based on fossil fuels, mainly coal. This plan was never fully realised due to an expansion of decentralised combined heat-power (CHP) based on a variety of fuels from biomass to natural gas, and due to that 20% of electricity supply in Denmark is coming from wind turbines – for nearly 10 years now. The overall objective of the government is that 30% of the general energy supply should come from renewables in 2020 combined with 20% reduction in CO2 emissions (binding agreement with the EU), and that in 2050 the energy system is expected to be carbon neutral.

3)From distribution to Smart grids

These changes related to energy sources and to energy use (when supply and demand has become outdated terms) can only be realised by enabling more “intelligence” into the energy system in form of balancing and storage capacity. In stead of distribution from point A (the utilities) to point B (the consumers) then an energy network is a much better metaphor (as a comparison, the internet has been used where producers and users also mix up). Smart grid is the concept used to describe this development especially related to electricity. In Denmark with substantial part of the country covered with district heating the challenge is furthermore to recognise the potentials related to balancing and storage by combining both “smart grids” and with possibility of “feed-in” of renewables in district heating system.

These changes do also indicate that energy has become an even more vital part of society. In general the most sustainable solution is to reduce energy consumption since energy efficiency has substantial economic benefits for households and industry as well as environmental benefits related to climate mitigation. Besides, energy savings have economic benefits for the society creating employment and reducing the trade deficit. Energy efficiency is the direct way to decouple energy consumption and economic growth.

The frame conditions for such a transition towards a sustainable energy system is equal important as the technology road-map. Energy policy and planning of different stakeholders from the EU over national governments and municipalities to utilities and NGO’s will be highlighted together with the role that the mentioned stakeholders have played so far in the transition.

The summer school will be

  • Interdisciplinary
  • Problem and solution oriented
  • Student-centred
  • Team work in project groups
  • Classes based on research
  • Walk-the-talk – focus on best practice in real life
  • Study trips to “good examples” in Denmark
  • Engagement with relevant stakeholders
  • FUN but not a holiday - plan to stay a week more 

Week 1 Planning for a Sustainable Energy System

Monday, August 9th – Friday, August 13th

Presentations in Aalborg University, Ballerup

(classes in the morning and project work in the afternoons)

  • Changes in the Danish energy system and planning
  • Integrated energy system analysis (introduction)
  • Introduction to Problem-based learning in teams
  • The potentials of bio-energy and bio-fuels

Presentations and visits in Central Copenhagen

  • Visit to the Engineers Association IDA: Energy and Climate plan for the future

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  • Copenhagen – carbon neutral by 2025 – visit to the city hall and presentations

-green energy supply

-greener transport

-energy efficient building

  • Bicycling in Copenhagen

Presentation and visit to DTU

(CET/DTU Elektro will be the host)

  • visit to DTU campus

-presentation on new energy technologies

-presentation of experimental facilities

-presentation of ongoing work related to DER

  • visit to a power station supplying power to Copenhagen
  • visit to a wind turbine site (Risoe 500 kW Nordtank Windturbine) – please note attendants need to be in shape for climbing up the windturbine (approximately 35 meters)
  • social evening event (collaboration AAU, AAU Ballerup and DTU)

Walk-the-talk

To fundamentally understand renewable energy, it must be experienced in a functional context. There is a great concentration of functional renewable energy systems on the island of Lolland, Southern Denmark. Lolland is a leading region in developing and implementing renewable energy demonstration sites. In Lolland´s Community Testing Facilities (CTF, there are functional facilities for wind power, hydrogen storage, biofuel production, waste-water testing facility, biomass, biodiesel, and biogas. Students can visit advanced renewable energy projects, such as:

  • Nysted Offshore Wind Farm
  • Hydrogen Community in Lolland
  • Vestas blade factory
  • Maribo-Sakskøbing DONG Energy CHP
  • Nykøbing F. REFA waste management and other testing sites.
  • Risoe Research Centre

By touring the island, students will learn about the science and technology behind renewable energy from experts and then explore the real communities in which these renewable technologies are being used. By visiting the communities that actually use renewable energy, students will gain an understanding of the complexity of issues (technical, political, social, and economical) that will be part of the global transition from petroleum to various forms of sustainable, renewable energy.

Friday evening social event

An informal meeting between teachers, instructors and students at Biscaya Tapas Bar which is situated in central Copenhagen.

The plan is also during the week-end, August, 14-15 to make a study trip to Samsø – Denmarks 100% renewable island in order to see how local ownership can secure a sustainable energy system? This trip will furthermore be part of a transfer to the City of Aalborg.

Week 2 Monday 16 august – Sunday 22 august

State-of-the-art technologies within renewable energy

Department of Energy Technology + Department of Building and Construction,

(classes in the morning and project work in the afternoons)

This week will include classes and visits that comes more into depth with new technology development related

  • Windturbines (Building and construction + visit to Siemens Wind Power)
  • Solar energy
  • Fuel cells
  • Energy storage
  • Electric cars and transport
  • Energy+ houses and intelligent building

For the week-end there will be a study trip to

  • Visit to Hanstholm (wave energy)
  • Thy/Mors Climate solutions
  • Nordisk Folkecenter for VE

Week 3 Monday 23 august – Friday 27 august

An Integrated and sustainable energy system

- institutional frame conditions and energy planning

Department of Development and Planning, AAU

(classes in the morning and project work in the afternoons)

The classes this week will go more into depth with the frame conditions in society in order to make such a transition towads a sustainable energy system. Issues covered this week will be:

  • Energy efficiency – clean tech development
  • District heating
  • Smart grids and energy balancing
  • A low carbon energy system based on 100 % renewable energy- Frederikshavn and Aalborg Municipality plus the Region of North Denmark as cases
  • Institutional and economic aspects of energy planning
  • Energy savings – demands to energy suppliers and distributers
  • Economic frame conditions and socio-economic benefits from Renewable Energy
  • Nordpool market – including visit to Nordjysk Elhandel
  • International perspectives such as Carbon trading and Emission Trading System as well as CDM and JI projects