Lectures, European Challenges of Future Energy Systems

Learning objectives: This course is structured to provide students with expertise about the future EU challenges on the path to climate neutrality and an energy system based on renewables. After this course, the students will be aware of the technical limitations of future energy systems, the main political challenges in the EU on the road to increasing the share of renewables and possible policy solutions for the EU as an Energy Union, its member states and neighbouring regions.

Content: The oil age has begun its long decline, but what international system will come after? The use of renewable energy reduces the dependency on fossil fuels but creates new ones. Challenges such as dependencies on renewable energy cooperation, storage technologies, and minerals needed for renewable energy technologies will become more evident and shape the energy policies of many states.

This course maps and compares the energy policies and challenges of EU member states and elaborates the impact on the EU´s path to becoming a green Energy Union. Throughout the course, the students will discuss energy challenges within the European Union and the changing international relations resulting from green energy technologies. Later, the students shall implement this knowledge in two simulation exercises: a simulation game about seabed mining and an action plan (written assignment) of a chosen country. Here, students apply theoretical and analytical policy lenses to examine critical energy and geopolitical issues associated with national energy security and sustainability targets.