Lectures and Projects
Sustainable communities in energy sector
Lecturer: Dr. Pavol Otepka, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
Objectives: The course provides examples of ways in which communities around the world
are addressing local problems in energy supply resulting in poverty and loneliness,
unemployment and economic decline, pollution and traffic congestion. This focus on
solutions helps establish several principles for sustainable community in energy building that
can be integrated into educational programmes.
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Scale of urbanization around the world, the opportunities and problems that this brings
Identification the characteristics of a sustainable community and principles of
sustainable community development
Using these characteristics and principles to analyze case studies of sustainable
community development in energy sector around the world
Recognizing the different approaches in sustainable community movement and their
contribution to sustainable community development and local citizenship
Cultivation of fast growing trees
Lecturer: Dr. Pavol Otepka, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
Objectives: Students will learn about the obligation of farmers to adapt their business
activities in terms of alternative products and environmental quality requirements. The fast
growing trees on arable land – “Short rotation plantations” (SRPs) are very promising
alternative source of income by cultivating fast growing tree-species as a source for
bioenergy, raw material for biofuels or the chemical industry by reusing different wastes for
irrigation and fertilization. The whole cultivation procedure of SRPs will be presented.
Students will also gain knowledge about the economic, ecological and technical feasibility of
SRPs for different local conditions and market requirements and to transfer this know-how to
their SME members (farmers, biomass processors, engineers, decisions makers).
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Background and legislative issues
Plantation site selection
Design and planting methods
Wastewater, sludge and woody ash application
Management and harvesting
Economic aspects of SRPs
Success stories – case studies
Geography of Renewable Energy
Lecturer: Dr. Martin Hauptvogl, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
Objectives: Students learn to understand that energy production and consumption varies
substantially in different regions and there is a great inequality in energy distribution in the
world. The aim is to increase awareness of the growing share of renewable energy resources
in the local, regional and global scale. Students learn to recognise natural conditions of
individual regions and their feasibility for the energy production based on different types of
renewable energy sources. Different regions of the world need to cope with different types of
resources.
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Relationship between energy consumption and economic development in the world
Global distribution of energy production and consumption
Environmental impacts of the energy production and consumption in different regions
Increasing efforts of the countries to become energy independent using locally
accessible renewable energy sources
Case studies of implementation of renewable energy sources in different regions
Applying GIS in Renewable Energy
Lecturer: Dr. Martin Hauptvogl, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
Objectives: The aim of the course is to show students the importance of GIS technology in the
process of the great efforts to capture and cultivate renewable sources. GIS improves the way
of energy production and consumption. It organizes geographic data and thus unable us to
select useful information and use the data for a specific project. The students understand the
importance of having proper and accurate information in order to make good decisions in the
process of a project planning. The course focuses on determining locations suitable for
different types of renewable energy sources.
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Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
Case studies of applying GIS in production of renewable energy
Using GIS software to determine the most favourable locations for wind farms in a
region
Localization of suitable areas for the establishment of biomass plantations and examine
the economic feasibility of biomass supply to energy producing facilities based on
transportation distance
Using GIS tools to calculate the solar energy potential of building rooftops
Mapping potential locations suitable for hydro plants
Locating areas suitable for the energy production based on biogas