Undergraduate Course: Energy Policy and Sustainability (STIS10008)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Energy Policy and Sustainability provides students with an understanding of contemporary societal and policy debates around key energy technologies in the context of the transition towards more sustainable and lower carbon energy systems. The course will take a distinctive STIS approach which will equip students with the analytical tools necessary to critically evaluate key energy technology and policy debates in the UK, Europe and globally. |
| Course description |
Energy Policy and Sustainability provides students with an understanding of contemporary societal and policy debates around key energy policy challenges in the context of the transition towards sustainable and lower carbon energy systems. The course will take a distinctive Science, Technology, and Innovation Studies (STIS) approach which will equip students with the analytical tools necessary to critically evaluate key energy technology and policy debates in the UK, Europe and globally.
Relevant concepts and frameworks from the STIS field will be introduced in order to unpack the complex relationships between energy technologies, actors and institutions. Students will be encouraged to look beyond deterministic accounts of energy system change, and to understand the range of societal actors shaping sustainable energy transition pathways. Throughout, we develop a ¿whole systems¿ view of energy systems and question silver bullet solutions.
Core themes and approaches will be explored against a backdrop of contemporary energy policy strategies covering various aspects of our energy system, including, for instance: Just Transitions, fuel poverty, energy markets, the practice of energy policy making and energy and development issues.
Further example topics include:
-The role of different actors in shaping energy supply technologies
-The introduction of new types of vehicles within well-established transport systems
- Innovations in end use technologies and smarter demand
- The role of the state and market in liberalised energy markets
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 4 humanities or social science courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1) Policy Brief - 1,500 words (30%) - submitted mid-way through the semester.
2) Final Essay - 3,000 words (70%).
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| Feedback |
Students will be provided with written feedback on their submissions within approximately 3 weeks of the submission date |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have an understanding of key policy and societal debates shaping transition pathways to low carbon and sustainable energy systems
- Can critically evaluate contributions to debates on energy technology issues, and decisions on them
- Have an understanding of relevant concepts from Science, Technology and Innovation Studies and their application to energy system transformation
- Can identify and evaluate a selection of techniques and procedures used in energy policy analysis, decision-making and assessment
- Have developed their skills in finding and using arguments and information on different energy options and in critically evaluating such material
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mark Winskel
Tel: (0131 6)51 4086
Email: Mark.Winskel@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Brodie Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)51 3139
Email: Brodie.Hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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