Postgraduate Course: Net Zero Infrastructures (fusion online) (EFIE11344)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Futures Institute |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will explore at different scales the impact existing policy including net zero targets will have on the everyday operation of a city and community. It will provoke discussions on the applicability of technologies and methods to lower carbon emissions in buildings and the infrastructure that surrounds cities and communities. It implements a collaborative approach through dialogue, acquisition of data and information as well as pragmatic digital and data-driven approaches to address the climate emergency currently experienced. |
| Course description |
During this course, the student will first be able to discuss and reflect on the existing targets and requirements for cities and other surrounding communities to meet net-zero performance. This will provide a context to the overall requirements but also recognise the constraints and levels of support needed. This then allows the student to propose changes and different approaches to infrastructure problems.
International targets, although different amongst countries, all face similar challenges and it's the interaction between the socio-economic and technical concerns together with the best solutions that this course will debate, explore and propose.
Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) - Online Fusion Course Delivery Information:
The Edinburgh Futures Institute will teach this course in a way that enables online and on-campus students to study together. This approach (our 'fusion' teaching model) offers students flexible and inclusive ways to study, and the ability to choose whether to be on-campus or online at the level of the individual course. It also opens up ways for diverse groups of students to study together regardless of geographical location. To enable this, the course will use technologies to record and live-stream student and staff participation during their teaching and learning activities. Students should note that their interactions may be recorded and live-streamed. There will, however, be options to control whether or not your video and audio are enabled.
As part of your course, you will need access to a personal computing device. Unless otherwise stated activities will be web browser based and as a minimum we recommend a device with a physical keyboard and screen that can access the internet.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 5 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 6,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
External Visit Hours 2,
Online Activities 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Summative Assessment:
The course will be assessed by means of the following assessment components:
1) Group Presentation / Response to Consultation (20%)
Local (home) infrastructure problem presentation - 5 slides & oral presentation. The presentation will be delivered during Day 1 of the Intensive Study period.
Response to consultation written by outlining the consultation question and the response, evidence and actions suggested. The response will be due at the end of Day 2 of the Intensive Study period.
2) 2000 Word Individual Proposal to an Infrastructure Problem (80%)
Evidence based proposal to an infrastructure problem considering net-zero approaches. A written report of 2000 words. |
| Feedback |
Written feedback to submitted coursework and consultation responses.
Verbal feedback after the presentations.
Formative assessments in the form of debates and discussions will be provided with feedback after such sessions and during the discussions.
A catch-up session will be organised with each student to conduct a formative assessment based on the final submission which will count towards their final mark, this assures that the CW submission is on track and meets the expectations of the CO.
Coursework support and feedback will be via 4 x 1hr sessions at different times in 24hr clock to support international students and their home locations. These are group sessions where students select the best time for them from the 4 available time options. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the net-zero and low-carbon targets and boundary conditions which are suggested by policy and key industry bodies.
- Apply critical analysis of data-driven solutions based on existing solutions and case studies, as well as those suitable of the scale and complexity often encountered in cities and smaller communities.
- Critically review proposals by government bodies and infrastructure providers towards a lo=carbon approach in cities and smaller communities.
- Develop skills to present and argue the design and specification of low-carbon solutions that have an impact on net-zero targets and aspirations.
- Demonstrate some originality and creativity in dealing with professional issues that address net-zero policy through a socio-economic and technical approach.
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Reading List
Indicative Reading List:
Essential Reading:
Alcalde, J., P. Smith, R.S. Haszeldine, and C.E. Bond. 'The Potential for Implementation of Negative Emission Technologies in Scotland'. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control 76 (2018): 85-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.06.021.
Wang, Y., J. Wang, and W. He. 'Development of Efficient, Flexible and Affordable Heat Pumps for Supporting Heat and Power Decarbonisation in the UK and beyond: Review and Perspectives'. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 154 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111747.
Cooper, S.J.G., G.P. Hammond, N. Hewitt, J.B. Norman, S.A. Tassou, and W. Youssef. 'Energy Saving Potential of High Temperature Heat Pumps in the UK Food and Drink Sector'. In Energy Procedia, edited by Tsamos K., Bianchi G., Tassou S.A., and Torrens D., 161:142-49. Elsevier Ltd, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.073.
Reguis, Antoine, Michele Tunzi, Behrang Vand, Paul Tuohy, and John Currie. 'Energy Performance of Scottish Public Buildings and Its Impact on the Ability to Use Low-Temperature Heat'. Energy and Buildings 290 (July 2023): 113064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113064.
Speirs, Jamie, Paul Balcombe, Erin Johnson, Jeanne Martin, Nigel Brandon, and Adam Hawkes. 'A Greener Gas Grid: What Are the Options'. Energy Policy 118 (1 July 2018): 291-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENPOL.2018.03.069.
Hobley, Alexander. 'Will Gas Be Gone in the United Kingdom (UK) by 2050? An Impact Assessment of Urban Heat Decarbonisation and Low Emission Vehicle Uptake on Future UK Energy System Scenarios'. Renewable Energy 142 (1 November 2019): 695-705. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RENENE.2019.04.052.
Recommended Reading:
Pelosi, D., M. Longo, G. Bidini, D. Zaninelli, and L. Barelli. 'A New Concept of Highways Infrastructure Integrating Energy Storage Devices for E-Mobility Transition'. Journal of Energy Storage 65 (15 August 2023): 107364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.107364.
Steven J. Davis et al., Net-zero emissions energy systems. Science360, eaas9793(2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aas9793.
Tong, D., Q. Zhang, Y. Zheng, K. Caldeira, C. Shearer, C. Hong, Y. Qin, and S.J. Davis. 'Committed Emissions from Existing Energy Infrastructure Jeopardize 1.5 °C Climate Target'. Nature 572, no. 7769 (2019): 373-77. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1364-3.
Pfeiffer, A., R. Millar, C. Hepburn, and E. Beinhocker. 'The "2°C Capital Stock" for Electricity Generation: Committed Cumulative Carbon Emissions from the Electricity Generation Sector and the Transition to a Green Economy'. Applied Energy 179 (2016): 1395-1408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.02.093.
Wei, W., and H.M. Skye. 'Residential Net-Zero Energy Buildings: Review and Perspective'. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 142 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110859.
Bonsu, N.O. 'Towards a Circular and Low-Carbon Economy: Insights from the Transitioning to Electric Vehicles and Net Zero Economy'. Journal of Cleaner Production 256 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120659.
Sithole, H., T.T. Cockerill, K.J. Hughes, D.B. Ingham, L. Ma, R.T.J. Porter, and M. Pourkashanian. 'Developing an Optimal Electricity Generation Mix for the UK 2050 Future'. Energy 100 (1 April 2016): 363-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENERGY.2016.01.077.
Further Reading:
What is the path to net zero infrastructure? Financial Times, 2023, online source: https://www.ft.com/partnercontent/global-infrastructure-hub/what-is-the-path-to-net-zero-infrastructure.html?utm_source=TW&utm_medium=sustainability&utm_content=paid
Transforming infrastructure to reach net zero, Leeds University, Dr Katy Roelich, 2023, online source: https://climate.leeds.ac.uk/net-zero/transforming-infrastructure-to-reach-net-zero/
Delivering net zero, climate resilience and growth, National Infrastructure Commission, 2023, online source: https://nic.org.uk/studies-reports/infrastructure-planning-system/delivering-net-zero-climate-resilience-growth/
Enabling net zero - infrastructure's role in the energy transition, abrdn, Ruairi Revell, 2023, online source: https://www.abrdn.com/en-gb/institutional/insights-and-research/enabling-net-zero-infrastructures-role-in-the-energy-transition |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course contributes to the following graduate attributes and skills:
- Creative problem solvers and researchers.
- Critical and reflective thinkers.
- Effective and influential contributors.
- Skilled communicators. |
| Keywords | Net-Zero Performance,Infrastructure,Environment,Whole-Life Carbon,Urban Solutions,Buildings,Energy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Julio Bros-Williamson
Tel: (0131 6)51 7112
Email: j.broswilliamson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Lawrence East
Tel:
Email: Lawrence.East@ed.ac.uk |
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