CIEE Center, Dublin, Ireland

Transcription

1 CIEE Center, Dublin, Ireland Course name: Energy Policy and the Environment: Green Energy versus a Green Land Course number: ENVI 3001 IREL Programs offering course: Summer Engineering, Technology and Science Language of instruction: English U.S. Semester Credits: 3 Contact Hours: 45 Term: Summer 2018 Course meeting times: Daily Course meeting place: Henry Grattan Building, Dublin City University Professor: TBC Contact Information: Office address: CG45 Henry Grattan Building, DCU, Dublin 9. Office hours: TBC Course Description The course will examine the need for growth of alternative energies and the effects of such technology on the landscape, the environment and local ecologies. The areas of government strategy, legislative frameworks and engineering will all be examined to provide context for current developments in the energy field in Ireland. In particular, tourism,, development and environmental policy will bring into focus the economic impact of energy industries, particularly windfarm expansion and development, from both a planning perspective and from the positions of local objectors. There will be guest lectures on government policy and by environmental agencies. Site visits include windfarms and also tourist and agricultural locations in order to provide contrasting perspectives. Learning Objectives Students will learn about the need for renewable energy to help reduce fossil fuel dependency at global level as a consequence of climate change; Acquire an overview of the European legislative framework on renewable energy generation; Attain full understanding of how European regulations have been transformed into a strategic development plan for renewable energy in Ireland; Gain awareness of engineering aspects and implications of environmental policies on renewable energy developments at the focus of current public debates, with particular emphasis on the impact of tourism policy on the energy industry;

2 Ability to critically evaluate the sustainability of energy projects in the context of the green energy versus green land controversy. Course Prerequisites There are no prerequisites for this class. Methods of Instruction The course will be taught through a variety of methods including: Lectures Sites visits and walking tours related to course content Guest Lectures Lectures are also linked to one three-day field trip to a small scale wind farm and the Ferrycarrig National Park. These visits will take place outside of class time and are an integral and compulsory element of the programme. Assessment and Final Grade List three or more methods of assessment in addition to attendance and participation, indicating the percent of final grade below totaling 100%: 1. Essay on Renewables Legislative Landscape: 20% 2. Brief Essay on Environmental Impact of Energy Technologies: 10 % 3. Report on Environmental Policies: 50% 4. Attendance and class participation: 10% (10% for each) Course Requirements Essay on the Legislative Landscape of Renewables: Assessment I The students are required to produce an overview of the European legislative landscape and how this legislation aims to promote renewable energy. This argumentative essay should utilize the extensive documentation, web links and sources provided during week 1. The essay should critically evaluate how Ireland s legislations fit into the EU regulations and compare the Irish Strategic Development Plan for Renewables with incentivizing measures undertaken in the U.S. An indicative list of topics is provided to the students.

3 Word Count: 1000 words (excluding title page and references) Brief Essay on Environmental Impact of Energy Technologies: Assessment II Engineering aspects and environmental impacts of one of the renewable energy technologies among those covered in week 2 should be discussed in the form of an essay. Personal considerations and information gathered at the site visits during week 2 of the course should also be embedded in the essay and explained analyzing the perspectives of both environmental agencies and the Irish government. Word Count: 500 words (including title page and references) Report on Environmental Policies: Assessment III Students are required to produce a comprehensive report describing the impact of environmental policies covered during the class on small scale wind farm development. Engineering aspects and technical obstacles to wind energy developments should be included in the report, as well as the green energy versus green land controversy. A report template will be provided. Pages Limit: 1500 words (excluding title page, references and appendices) Attendance and Class Participation Attendance is taken through a class list at the beginning of every class. Any absence must be clearly explained. An unexplained absence will result in a reduction of marks for attendance. Two unexplained absence will result in a zero mark for attendance and a meeting with the Resident Director. Students are expected to be interactive in class, contribute to discussion and be involved in seminar participation. Participation will be noted by the instruction both in terms of frequency but particularly relevance. Course work must be completed and submitted on time. Unless students receive an extension from the professor, assignment grades are reduced by 10% daily if turned in after the deadline.. If the assessment is more than 3 days late then students will be required to meet with the Resident Director. No coursework will be accepted after the last day of class.

4 Weekly Schedule Week 1 Orientation Week 19 June Renewable Energy to displace fossil fuels Legislative frameworks: EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Draft Bioenergy Plan and Biofuels Obligation and Statutory Instrument Strategy for Renewable Energy: Week 2 26 Jun Engineering Aspects and Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies: Hydroelectric Power Wind Energy Biomass for Electricity Field-Trips: West of Ireland (Required) Day 1 - Site Visits themes: Wind Farm. Day 2 - Site Visits themes: Ferrycarrig National Park Assessment I - Due Week 3 3 h July Implications of Environmental Policies on Renewable Energy Developments Tourism Policy and Economic Impact on Energy Farms Green Energy versus Green Land Debate Assessment II - Due Week 4 10 th July Engineering Aspects in Environmental Policies Wind Farm Development: A Case Study Final Remarks and Conclusions Assessment III - Due Exit presentation and Reviews

5 Selected site-visits/tours Energy Policy and the Environment: Green Energy versus a Green Land - Southeast Field Trip The trip includes visits to local windfarms that provide opportunities for individuals and communities to benefit from sustainability projects. There are also disagreements and challenges locally which will be addressed by guest speakers. Cultural visits to a National Park and local cities are included, but the focus of the visits is always on environmental sustainability. Ferrycarrig National Park This visit will address the creation of a national park, visitor centre and ancient Ireland exhibition in the context of water conservation and a county sustainability plan for Wexford. Students will engage with a cultural experience while understanding the construction of a sustainable national park and water management strategies. Small Scale Windfarm This windfarm is managed by a local landowner and farmer who diversified into wind energy. Students will assess the benefits of small scale wind energy, the design and management of the turbines including an analysis of long term viability. Later there will be a talk from community organizations in opposition to wind farms in scenic locations. Selected Readings Short, M., Baker, M., Carter, J., Jones, C., & Jay, S. (2013). Strategic environmental assessment and land use planning: an international evaluation. Routledge. Beck, F., & Martinot, E. (2004). Renewable energy policies and barriers.encyclopedia of energy, 5(7), Klessmann, C., Held, A., Rathmann, M., & Ragwitz, M. (2011). Status and perspectives of renewable energy policy and deployment in the European Union What is needed to reach the 2020 targets?. Energy policy, 39(12), Komor, P., & Bazilian, M. (2005). Renewable energy policy goals, programs, and technologies. Energy Policy, 33(14), Del Río, P., & Burguillo, M. (2008). Assessing the impact of renewable energy deployment on local sustainability: Towards a theoretical framework. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 12(5), Outka, U. (2010). Siting renewable energy: Land use and regulatory context.ecology law quarterly, 37, Warren, C. R., Lumsden, C., O'Dowd, S., & Birnie, R. V. (2005). Green on green : public perceptions of wind power in Scotland and Ireland. Journal of environmental planning and management, 48(6), Bergmann, A., Colombo, S., & Hanley, N. (2008). Rural versus urban preferences for renewable energy developments. Ecological economics, 65(3), Haas, R., Eichhammer, W., Huber, C., Langniss, O., Lorenzoni, A., Madlener, R.,... & Verbruggen, A. (2004). How to promote renewable energy systems successfully and effectively. Energy Policy, 32(6),

6 Ellis, G., & Welstead, J. (2012). A Review of the Context for Enhancing Community Acceptance of Wind Energy in Ireland. SQW Pty Ltd and Queen s University Belfast, Belfast. Welch, J. B., & Venkateswaran, A. (2009). The dual sustainability of wind energy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13(5), Van den Broek, R. (2000). Sustainability of biomass electricity systems. An assessment of costs, macro-economic and environmental impacts in Nicaragua, Ireland and the Netherlands.