Hultman Energy Policy Syllabus 10/20/16

COURSE SYLLABUS
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY

Energy: Technology, Policy, and Society

Prof. Nathan Hultman
Spring 2016
Course meetings
Tuesday 1:30 – 4:00
VMH 1203

This seminar provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the science, technology, economics, and
politics of energy use in human societies. After an introduction to the scientific principles of
transforming energy sources into usable services, we investigate specific technologies and
discuss their impact on geopolitics and the environment. In doing so we seek to address these
questions, among others: What is the role of energy in national security? What is the future of oil
and how do new resources and new demand centers affect energy security? What are the
implications of new, long-term supplies of unconventional gas from fracking? What role can
nuclear power serve for the next century? Do wind and solar power have the potential to supplant
other energy sources? What will climate change policy mean for our energy mix? How might
developing countries undertake a low-carbon energy transition? What is the proper balance of
regulation and free market operation in energy and electricity markets? What new technologies
are on the horizon, and how promising are they? Given extensive current activity on this topic, the
course will retain flexibility to take advantage of relevant DC-area academic, government, or
agency events, hearings, and/or conferences.

Syllabus Version: 3

Contact Information
Prof. Nathan Hultman
Office: VMH 3137
Email: hultman@umd.edu
Tel: 301-405-3429
Office hours: Tues 9-10 am

Assignments
• Policy Briefs – 3 pages, double spaced. Explain the key dimensions of the topic, providing a
useful summary that can be used to inform policy discussion. There are three policy briefs
assigned.
• One “Policy Opinion” – 700-1000 words. This should be submitted as Op-Ed to a media outlet
of your choice. I have assigned a specific date, but you are welcome to pick a different topic
and date if you prefer, as long as you turn one in by the last day of class.

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• US National and Subnational Policy. Working on a 4-person team, you will do a 75 minute
presentation for the class on a US national policy dimension chosen from the following:
electricity sector and CPP, nuclear power, renewables, efficiency, transportation.
• National Energy Strategies. Working on a 2-person team, you will prepare a 5 page briefer on
national energy context and strategy for one of nine possible countries: Brazil, Canada,
China, Germany (with EU), India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa. This briefer will
constitute the sole reading material for the class on your country. You will then do a 45-
minute presentation to the class on the energy context for your country, focusing on
resources and current challenges, and potential energy strategies for the coming decade.

Summary of assignments:
Pct of grade
Policy Opinions (1) 10%
Policy Briefs (3) 30%
National Energy Strategy 30%
US Policy Presentation 20%
Class Participation 10%
100%

Facility Site Visits

We will be integrating some site visits into the course. We will try to do them during regularly
scheduled class time.
• UMD Nuclear Research Reactor, College Park, Maryland
• UMD gas cogeneration facility, College Park, Maryland
• UMD solar rooftop facility TBC

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

Note: Readings are to be completed before the lecture on the day that they are listed

January 26
Cancelled because of Snow

February 02
Introduction

In class:
• Introductions
• Course overview
• World and US energy context
• Discuss team presentations

February 09
Energy: Tools, conversions, engineering

In class:
• Basic energy toolkit
• Quantitative conversions
• Energy conversion
• Electricity basics

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Grübler et al, “Ch 1: Energy Primer” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment.

http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapter1.en.html
Review IEA “Key world energy statistics 2015”
https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/KeyWorld_Statistics_2015.p
df

February 16
Nuclear Energy: Basics

In class:
• Nuclear science and radiation
• Basic reactor operation

Von Hippel et al, “Ch 14: Nuclear Energy” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapte14.en.html
“How much radiation is safe” The Economist 11 Feb 2008.
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10675396
Look at online material on reactor types and performance available at:
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/power.html
Report of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Energy Future, Jan 2012.
http://brc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/brc_finalreport_jan2012.pdf

February 23
Fossil Resources and Technologies

In class:
• Natural resource extraction
• Fossil fuel characteristics and resources
• Unconventional resources
• Traditional fossil technologies
• Advanced combustion, “Clean coal”, Carbon Capture and sequestration
• Fossil markets

Rogner et al “Ch. 7: Energy Resources and Potentials” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapter7.en.html
Optional: Cherp et al, “Ch 5: Energy & Security” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment.
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapter5.en.html
Larson and Li, et al, “Ch 12: Fossil Energy” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapte12.en.html
Benson et al “Ch 13: Carbon Capture and Storage” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment”
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapte13.en.html
Energy Information Agency. International Energy Outlook, 2015
“World Oil Markets” http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/oil.html
“Natural Gas” http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/nat_gas.html

March 01
Nuclear Energy: Technology and Policy

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In class:
• Gen III, III+, IV reactor designs
• Costs and risks of civilian nuclear power
• Storage, nonproliferation
• DUE: Policy Opinion: Nuclear Power
• Team presentation: U.S. and Subnational Policy on Nuclear Energy

Deutch, John et al (2003). The future of nuclear power, MIT Nuclear Report.
http://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/pdf/nuclearpower-full.pdf
Read:
• Chapter 5 “Nuclear Power Economics”
• Chapter 9 “Public attitudes and public understanding”
Deutch, John et al (2009). Update of the 2003 Future of Nuclear Power, MIT Nuclear Report.
http://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/pdf/nuclearpower-update2009.pdf
Lochbaum, D. (2011), “The NRC and Nuclear Power Plant Safety in 2010: A Brighter
Spotlight Needed” Union of Concerned Scientists Report.
http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_power/nuclear_power_risk/safety/nrc-and-nuclear-power-
2010.html
“Lessons from Deepwater Horizon and Fukushima: In place of safety nets” Economist 20
April 2011. http://www.economist.com/node/18586658

March 08
Renewables
In class:
• Wind: Onshore, offshore
• Solar: PV, CSP, thermal heating
• Wave, tidal, geothermal
• Maryland and offshore wind
• Team presentation: U.S. and Subnational Policy on Renewables
• DUE: Policy Brief: Offshore Wind on the US East Coast

Turkenburg et al, “Ch 11: Renewable Energy” in 2012 Global Energy Assessment.
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapte11.e
n.html

March 15 SPRING BREAK

March 22
Electricity Markets and Policy

In class:
• Grid management and electricity markets
• Centralized vs. distributed generation
• Storage
• Team presentation: U.S. and Subnational Policy on Electricity Sector
• DUE: Policy Brief: Clean Power Plan

MIT Energy Initiative: The future of the electric grid. Ch. 1: “Challenges, Opportunities, and
Major Recommendations” and Ch. 3: “Integration of variable energy resources”. Skim
Chs 5, 7, others per your interest. http://web.mit.edu/mitei/research/studies/the-electric-
grid-2011.shtml

March 29
Transportation and Bioenergy

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In class:
• Vehicle fuel efficiency
• EVs and fuel cells
• Transportation, alternate transport, VMT, IT and behavior
nd
• liquid biofuels: Ethanol, biodiesel, algal-based & 2 Gen
• biomass for electricity generation
• Team presentation: U.S. and Subnational Policy on Transportation & Biofuels

Ribeiro and Figueroa, et al. “Ch 9: Energy End-Use: Transport” in 2012 Global Energy
Assessment
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapter9.en.html

Optional:
Goldemberg, José (2009). “The Brazilian experience with Biofuels” Innovations 4(4): 91-124.
“Mali's Farmers Discover a Weed's Potential Power” The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/world/africa/09biofuel.html?ex=1346990400&en=797
5f93addeacfea&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

April 05
Efficiency and R&D

In class:
• Efficiency technologies
• Consumption and behavior; Rebound effect
• Codes and standards
• long-term technological change
• innovation and spillovers
• Team presentation: U.S. and Subnational Policy on Efficiency and R&D

Ürge-Vorsatz et al, “Ch 10: Energy Efficiency End-Use: Buildings”

http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapte10.en.html
Rosenfeld, Art & Deborah Poskanzer (2009). “How California came to lead the United States
in Energy Efficiency” Innovations 4(4): 57-91
Owen, David (2010). The efficiency dilemma. The New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/12/20/101220fa_fact_owen
Take a look at: Case studies
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3383
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3392
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/industry/bestpractices/pdfs/mi_cs_alcoa_world_alumina.pdf
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071700921.html
Videos
http://bet.rmi.org/video
http://walmartstores.com/video/?id=715

April 12
US Energy Policy wrap up
Finish lecture material
Discussion and integration of US energy policy
• DUE: National Energy Briefs

April 19
National Energy Strategies, Part 1

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In Class: Team Presentations

• Brazil
• Germany/EU
• India
• Japan
• Mexico
Read briefers for above countries

April 26
National Energy Strategies, Part 2
In Class: Team Presentations
• China
• South Africa
• Canada
• Indonesia
Read briefers for above countries

May 02-06
Climate Action Week 2016 and UMD Climate Forum
There will be a large amount of programming on campus as part of our Climate Action 2016
summit week. You are encouraged to stay informed and engaged with these events. Campus
events, many of which will overlap with our energy topics, will occur primarily on Wednesday,
May 4, so please keep time blocked out on that day to attend as much as possible. I will keep you
informed about other opportunities.
Read more at http://www.climateaction.umd.edu

May 03
Energy Access
In class:
• Technologies
• Energy distribution
• Market development
• SE4All, Power Africa
• DUE: Policy Brief: Energy Access

Karekzi, McDade, et al “Ch. 2: Energy, Poverty, and Development” in 2012 Global Energy
Assessment
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapter2.en.html
“Solar energy: Starting from scratch” Economist. 24 Jan 2012.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2012/01/solar-energy

May 10
Energy System Transformations
In Class
• Reaching goals for energy security, energy access, climate
• Deep decarbonization trajectories
• Energy Policies for globally sustainable development
• Post-Paris implementation
• Role of CEM, Mission Innovation, G20, UNFCCC, and other international convening

Jaccard et al, “Chapter 22: Policies for Energy System Transformations - Objectives and
Instruments.” In 2012 Global Energy Assessment.
http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/researchPrograms/Energy/Chapte22.en.html