Final Syllabus
Renewable Energy Systems
Summer 2015: Session 2, June 15-July 3
Study tour: Germany
Instructors: Carlos Garcia Robles and Nils Thorsen
Room: F24-303
Time: Varies (see course outline)
Instructors:
Carlos Garcia-Robles
Cand.techn.soc. (Technological & Socio-Economic Planning, Roskilde University, 2009). B.A.
(International Relations, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 2004). Represented Mexican NGOs
during WSSD process, 2002. Member of the Energy and Climate Group, Project coordinator for Friends
of the Earth Denmark for COP15 process. With DIS since 2011.
Nils Thorsen
Nils Thorsen was a senior manager in Ernst & Young and responsible for Environment and Sustainability
Services in Denmark for 15 years. Nils has 30 years of experience including, prior to Ernst & Young,
employment in Novo Nordisk, Ministry for the Environment and Agency of Environment in Copenhagen.
Nils has been a lecturer in DIS since 1996.
DIS Contacts:
Neringa Bigailaite Vendelbo, Program Director, nb@dis.dk
Stephanie Oehler, Program Assistant, soe@dis.dk
Course description:
Current environmental issues, climate change, global social injustice, and the impacts of these on
ecosystems and societies have led us to radically rethink our current energy systems. It is necessary for
us to understand how humanity became so dependent upon fossil fuels, and it is even more important
for us to understand what other alternative energies exist. This class will examine the technical,
economic, and political aspects of renewable energy, and students will learn about the successes and
failures of implementing alternative energies at the local, national, and regional levels. This class will
focus on the Danish energy experience by exploring different renewable energy technologies (wind,
solar, biofuel, etc.). Throughout the course, we will focus on the question of business implementation of
these technologies and dilemmas between technical opportunities and business feasibility is being be
highlighted.
The fact is that less than 5% of energy supplies in the world are from renewable energy even though
technical opportunities allow for at least 50-60%, and on a time scale 100%, which raises the question—
why is it not already implemented? The presentation of renewable energy technologies energy systems
are being reviewed from a financial, market and business perspective in this course. Typically, the
financial and business challenge speaker will act as an “opponent” after the presentation of
technologies and systems. Thus, the main element will serve students with an understanding of
renewable energy technologies and systems - and the opponent’s contribution will make students
consider and reflect on renewable energy implementation.
Renewable Energy Systems DIS
Final Syllabus
Energy models for systematic supply with renewable energy will be presented and students will build
their own supply model thorough a game. The course covers the model that currently works in
Denmark, which forms the basis for a dialogue on dilemmas between opportunities and barriers for a
wider dissemination of renewable energy. We will also focus on a business perspective to various clean
technologies, policy options to promote these and business feasibility. The core of the course will be a
discussion between technological opportunities and societal, political, business and market drivers.
Format:
The course is taught through a mixture of lectures, specific assignments, group work and discussions.
Guest speakers, field studies, and a study tour will also be incorporated and are important parts of the
learning process. This session incorporates a one-week study tour to Germany. The study tour will be a
mixture of academic and cultural visits and activities.
The course elements are:

Lectures, including students preparation and contribution to discussion of the readings and
faculty’s input
Assignments related to supply, market and negation games
Field studies and guest speakers
Study tour to Germany
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Date/Times
1
Reading
Interview links on
Blackboard
Tuesday, June 16
14:00 – 15:00
2
Topic
-Introduction to course (Carlos + Nils)
-Organization of logistics – group work,
grading criteria readings etc.
Students to edit there background,
priorities, expectations for the course
etc.
15:00 – 16:15
-Presentation of logistical information
for study tour (Stephanie and Sofie)
16:30 – 17:00
COP 21 status (Nils and Carlos)
2 Blackboard Videos
Reinventing Fire Executive
Summary
Wednesday, June 17
9:00 – 12:30
Presentation of Renewable Technology
Opportunities:
-Wind parts 1 and 2 (Carlos)
-Danish Windmill Story (Carlos)
Business and actor involvement (Nils)
Renewable Energy Systems DIS
Renewable Energy
A Users Guide pp 106-133
Look at Danish Wind
Energy Market Flash Player
Peter Karnøe: RES - Path
Final Syllabus
14:00-18:00
3
Field Study to Lynetten Windpower
(Carlos)
creation dynamics and
winds of change a RES
frontrunnerils Thorsen:
Business perspectives,
Wind, review note
Wave energy (Julia)
Renewable Energy
A Users Guide and 8 pp 154
Thursday, June 18
9:00-10:20
10:40- 12:00
Geothermal (Carlos)
Venture Capital Firms in
the Clean Energy Sector:
The Unites States
Experience by Sanjay Jain,
Santa Clara University,
April 9 2013
6 Myths About Venture
Capitalists by Diane
Mulcahy, Harvard Business
Review, May 13 2013
4
Friday, June 19
9:00 – 10:20
Biofuels and biomass basics (Carlos)
Review: Business drivers and barriers,
including EU plan for biofuels (Nils)
10:40 – 12:00
Solar thermal and solar PV (Carlos)
Review: Business drivers and barriers
(Nils)
13:00-13:30
Solar videos (Carlos)
13:40 -15:30
Introduction to games (Carlos)
Preparation for games (Carlos)
1) Changing the game part 1
(energy supply)
2) Changing the game 2
(negotiation)
3) ENSIGHT (Electricity markets)
(Julia)
Renewable Energy Systems DIS
Renewable Energy
A Users Guide Chapters 2
pp 28-41 Chapter 4
Biofuels Pp 76-89 and
chapter 6 PV pp 133
Nils Thorsen, Review note:
Business perspectives for
solar energy and biofuels
Background material for
changing the game
ENSIGHT debriefing manual
Final Syllabus
Study Tour: Germany
5
Monday, June 29
Readings on Black Board
09:00 – 9:20
Study tour wrap-up.
9:20 – 10:40
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and
District Heating (Carlos)
Review – Business drivers and barriers
(Nils)
10:50 – 12:00
6
Wind, Solar, Biomass, Policy
Instruments, Urban (Re)Development
Energy Plans in Denmark (Nils and
Carlos)
Video: CHP District heating
& cooling from Denmark
Video: Biomass in Denmark
Lund Chapter 5
Energy Strategy 2050,
Danish Governmental
Commission, pp 3-10
14:00 – 17:00
Field Study to Amager Resource Center
Tuesday, July 30
Game Day!
Changing the Game manual
9:00-13:00
Changing the Game part 1: energy
supply. Change the energy future of
Europe using changing cards and Lego
bricks. (Julia +1)
Chapter 5 Reinventing Fire
pp166-187 (Preparation for
class on July 3)
**Paper on Changing the game part 1
due**
7
Wednesday, July 1
9:00 – 10:20
Future investment strategies and other
financial mechanisms
Lenas paper (to be
specified)
Feed-in Tariffs in America
Electricity markets (Guest: Lena)
The electrical system and a
tandem Bicycle
10:40 – 12:00
13:00 – 14:20
Renewable Energy; making things fit
together (Carlos)
Chapter 5 Reinventing Fire
pp188-225
Video: America´s New
Energy System
Video: Smart Grid in
Denmark
Renewable Energy Systems DIS
Final Syllabus
8
Thursday, July 2
9:00 – 13:00
14:00 - 15:00
Readings on Black Board
ENSIGHT – Electricity markets game
(Julia +1)
Preparation for negotiation game on
July 3rd (Carlos)
ENSIGHT debriefing manual
4 short videos on Energy
Markets in Scandinavia (to
be viewed before the class)
**Paper on ENSIGHT Electricity markets
game due**
9
Friday, July 3
**Paper Negotiation game due**
9:00 – 12:00
Changing the Game part 2: Energy
negotiation game (Julia, Nils, Carlos)
12:00 – 13:30
Course wrap up including student to
recap their note on expectation,
priorities etc.
Program concluding lunch
Assignments and grading elements (you will receive written instructions in class regarding individual
assignment details):
 Assignment 1: Students choose readings for specific preparation and edit a note (1 pg.)
presenting essence of the reading and key questions to open the floor for discussion in class
15%
 Assignment 2: Interpretation note regarding Change the game part 1 – Energy supply 20%
 Assignment 3: Interpretation note regarding ENSIGHT - of energy markets 20%
 Assignment 4: Interpretation note Changing the games part 2 Negotiation play 20%
DEADLINE BEFORE GAMES EXECUTION
 Assignment 5: Individual presentation on reading/visit: 10%
 Class and study tour participation: 15%
Assignment guides will be provided.
OBS: All written assignments e-docs sent to instructors must have the following name: Student first
name.students last name.assignment number Ex: Nils.Thorsen.assignment 1.docx
Primary Texts:
McCrea, Andy: Renewable Energy, A Users Guide. (available on Blackboard)
Renewable Energy Systems DIS
Final Syllabus
Lovins, Amory: Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era. (available on
Blackboard)
Lund, Henrik (2010): Renewable Energy Systems: The Choice and Modeling of 100% Renewable
Solutions. Elsevier. (to be picked up from library)
 Readings, articles, videos and excerpts uploaded to Blackboard
 All readings that are not found in the main textbook are on Blackboard!
Participation includes the following criteria:
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Attendance
Active participation in class and study tour discussions
Preparation for each class
Reading all assigned texts
Preparing all assignments for class
Reflection on reading
Active participation in field studies and study tour visits
Attendance: You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss two classes, the
Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified; they will followup with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS.
Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but you will need to provide a doctor’s note.
Deadline policy:
Assignments and papers handed in after the deadline are not accepted and will be graded as failed. If
you’re ill (and can provide a valid doctor’s note) or have good reasons for not being able to meet a
deadline, make sure to consult the instructor.
Confidentiality:
Due to the nature of some of our visits throughout the semester, you may be asked to sign a
confidentiality agreement with regards to privacy of some Cleantech knowledge. In the event that a
company requires you to keep information confidential, please be advised that information regarded as
confidential will not be allowed to be posted on DIS forum, made available on the internet, or
distributed to 3rd parties.
DIS Forum:
To log onto the DIS Forum website for the first time, go to forum.dis.dk.
Please refer to the “Welcome to DIS Forum” email you received before your arrival in Copenhagen.
Otherwise, enter the email address that you provided to DIS, as this is now your username. Click “forgot
password’’ and the password will be sent to your email account. Use the password to log on and then
Renewable Energy Systems DIS
Final Syllabus
you can change your password under “my info.” If you are having problems please contact
forumhelp@dis.dk.
Transportation:
The best way to find your way around Copenhagen and the greater Copenhagen area is to use
www.rejseplanen.dk Click on the British flag for English, type in your starting and finishing addresses,
and either the time you want to leave or arrive. This website will show you various routes to get to your
destination, when you should leave, the amount of time it takes, the zones required and the type of
public transportation that will be used. Your transportation pass is valid on all S-trains, metros, busses,
and regional trains ONLY in the zones you have been given (if you have received a transportation pass.)
All group transportation for field studies will be covered by DIS, but bring your transportation pass if you
have received one from DIS.
Another useful tool for walking or biking directions is Google maps and the Danish equivalent:
www.krak.dk
Laptop computer policy: While most students find that taking notes by hand in class is quite sufficient
for review purposes, you are allowed to use a computer in class for writing lecture/discussion notes.
However, you are asked not to use computers in class to write e-mails, connect to social media, or
conduct other such activities as this is quite disrespectful and distracting for me and other students.
Failure to show this courtesy will result in a reduction of your class participation grade.
Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work.
DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.
Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal and notification
of the students’ home universities. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be
submitted in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic
Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.
Disability resources: Any student who has a need for disability accommodations should contact Sean
Green (sgr@dis.dk) to coordinate this. Upon DIS approval, students should inform the instructor of
accommodations within the first 2 weeks of class.
Renewable Energy Systems DIS