University of Exeter: Transforming Energy Systems; Why Governance Matters
Course duration: 4 weeks
Commitment: 4 hours/week
Subject: Nature and Environment
Details: Energy governance includes the rules, regulations, institutions and politics that affect energy system change. Effective governance is key to the transformation of energy systems in order to tackle climate change with the urgency that’s needed.
On this course, you will explore how and why energy systems need to change, and what this means for security, people and costs. You will also learn about the key elements of effective energy governance and explore real-life examples of energy governance from around the world.
Topics you will cover
Energy System Transformation: changes, challenges and governance
- What energy systems are for and how they work
- Links between energy systems, climate change, air pollution and equity
- Exploring energy system change through a 4D approach (decarbonisation, decentralisation, digitisation and democratisation)
- The role of energy governance in system transformation
Emerging Energy Systems
- How are the characteristics and operation of energy systems changing
- What does a smart and flexible future look like
- Changing value flows and new business models within energy systems
- What does the energy transformation mean for current institutions?
People, Scale and Society
- How is the role of people within energy systems changing?
- What is meaningful consent and why is it so important?
- What is local energy, why is it growing in importance and what are the implications of this?
- How can we best coordinate change across multiple levels of the energy system?
Energy governance change for rapid decarbonisation
- How to co-ordinate the governance of electricity, heat and transport
- The importance of a people-focused energy system, and how to get it
- Examples of good energy governance from other countries
- A fit-for purpose energy governance framework for energy system transformation
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to…