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351-0510-00L 3 Credits DS , BSC , MSC D-USYS , D-MTEC , D-GESS , D-ITET , D-MAVT , D-MATH

Energy Economics and Policy

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. em. Dr. Eberhard Jochem
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:19:46

Abstract

The course offers basic knowledge of energy economics, energy markets, energy resources and statistics, concepts of energy efficiency and substitution potentials, technological adaptation to climate change, obstacles and market imperfections, and the methods to identify impacts of related energy and technology policies. The energy policy section covers general and specific policy instruments.

Objective

The objective of the course is to develop a solid understanding of energy economics, energy statistics, energy modelling methods, and related policy areas and to develop a "dogging" competence to energy and climate policy issues. The course is an obligatory course of the Master of Energy Science and Technology starting in 2008.

Content

1. Reserves and resources of non-renewable resources, depletion mid-point of world oil production and its implication on world energy prices; 2. Energy statistics at the national and international level, energy balances, cumulative energy demand; 3. Efficiency potentials in theory and applied to energy services, useful energy, final and primary energy conversion at the business, sector, macroeconomic and welfare economic level; 4. Energy intensity concepts of sectors and economies, international division of labour, structural change of economies, the 2000 Watt per capita industrial society; 5. Energy demand projections: boundary conditions and scenario design, quantitative models, reasons for pitfalls of energy demand projections; 6. Examples of sectoral energy demand projections, additional investments and reduced demand and emissions, iteration of consistent scenarios by model systems (bottom up-/top down); 7. Obstacles and market imperfections in energy markets and markets of efficiency products: costing, transaction cost, lack of information and market survey, lack of capital and financial flexibility, socio-economic factors in companies and administrations, prestige and preferences, international trade; 8. Co-benefits and ancillary benefits in theory and examples for buildings and industrial investments; 9. External cost of energy use and conversion; different methods of identification, quantification and monetarisation; 10. Energy policy objectives, general instruments (taxes, emission certificates, subsidies); 11. Energy policy instruments (sector specific: energy labeling, professional training, technical standards, learning local networks, R&D. technology specific subsidies, feed-in tariffs, and others; 12. national and international energy law, Swiss system of ordinances, standards and energy related norms, Kyoto Protocol and its implementation.

Resources

Lecture Notes

The script of the course is in English with an annex offering German-English technical terms and a glossary. Complex relationships are described by black board design or beamer presentations. The script also incorporates former exercises with exemplary solution attached and hints for further literature.Will be sold in the first lecture on March 22 for CHF 10.-.

Literature

Banks F.E. 2000. Energy Economics: A Modern Introduction. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. Blok K. 2006. Introduction to Energy Analysis, Techne Press, Amsterdam. Cleveland, C.J., and Morris, Ch. 2006. Dictionary of Energy, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Boston. Sorrell S., O’Malley E., Schleich, J. and Scott, S. 2004. The Economics of Energy Efficiency – Barriers to Cost-Effective Investment, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham, UK External Cost: EXTERN-E: http://externe.jrc.es/index.html Hensing I, Pfaffenberger, W., Ströbele, W. 1998: Energiewirtschaft – Einführung in die Theorie und Politik. Oldenbourg, München UNDP/World Energy Council/UNDESA 2001: World Energy Assessment. New York.

General Information

Language
German
Levels
DS , BSC , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Energy Economics and Policy
Lehrsprache: Deutsch und Englisch
  • Thu 15:15-17:00 (ML H 44)
  • 19.04 Date 15:15-17:00 (ML H 43)
2 h weekly

Offered In