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