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The Open University

Future energy demand and supply

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

The course covers the present-day perspective on energy, forecasting future energy scenarios, environmental consequences of fossil fuel combustion, prospects for the world's energy future, and managing energy use in the future. Students will learn about global energy scenarios, environmental impacts of fossil fuel burning, cleaner fossil fuels, renewable energy sources, the hydrogen economy, and nuclear fusion. The teaching method includes lectures, case studies, and discussions. This course is intended for individuals interested in understanding future energy demand and supply, environmental sustainability, and energy management.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 The present-day perspective
  • 1 The present-day perspective
  • 2 Forecasting: energy in the future
  • 2 Forecasting: energy in the future
  • 2.1 A lesson from the past
  • 2.2 Global energy scenarios
  • 2.2.1 The World Energy Council scenarios
  • 2.2.2 Other scenarios: Shell and Greenpeace
  • 2.3 Forecasting UK energy demand
  • 3 Environmental consequences of fossil fuel combustion
  • 3 Environmental consequences of fossil fuel combustion
  • 3.1 Fossil-fuel burning and global warming
  • 3.1.1 Global warming
  • 3.2 Sulphur dioxide, acid rain and air quality
  • 3.3 The effects of atmospheric aerosols
  • 3.4 Pollution solutions?
  • 4 Prospects and possibilities for the world's energy future
  • 4 Prospects and possibilities for the world's energy future
  • 4.1 Currently available sources
  • 4.2 Developing current energy systems
  • 4.2.1 Cleaner fossil fuels
  • 4.2.2 Renewable sources of energy
  • 4.3 Future energy systems
  • 4.3.1 The hydrogen economy
  • 4.3.2 Nuclear fusion
  • 5 Managing energy use in the future
  • 5 Managing energy use in the future
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

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