Course Content 'Energy Economics'
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will have gained in-depth knowledge of the context of and interactions between the German and European energy market.
- They will be familiar with energy requirements and able to extrapolate future developments.
- They will be familiar with the challenges of a decentralised energy supply.
- They will be familiar with the unique aspects of deregulated energy markets and their requirements.
- They will understand pricing mechanisms and be able to make investment decisions.
- They will be able to identify the underlying purpose of energy policies.
- They will be able to analyse energy systems based on economic considerations.
The following content will be covered:
Energy requirements and prognoses | Significance of energy, energy as a production factor, and goals of energy policies |
Energy markets |
The fundamentals of deregulated energy markets, pricing and investments, market sectors, uncertainties in energy markets, market power |
Energy sector — Online business game |
A simulation of the electricity exchange in which participants will assume the role of electricity traders |
Energy efficiency |
Energy and energy efficiency, obstacles and the rebound effect, political measures, supply-side energy efficiency (combined heat and power plants and decentralised energy supply by means of renewable energy), energy efficiency in buildings |
The spread of innovation and technological change |
Background to the spread of innovation, models for technological change, examples of technological change in the energy sector |
Energy systems analysis |
Energy system models and classification, methods of scenario planning in the field of energy systems analysis, planning the operation of power plants, interdependencies in the energy sector, scenario-based decision tools |
Sustainable energy sector | Definition of sustainability, indicators to measure sustainability, environmental impact of energy use, evaluation of power generation technologies |