NKEB24001U Chemistry in the Green Energy Transition (Green Energy)

Volume 2026/2027
Education

BSc Programme in Nanoscience

Content

Overview of the green energy transition and the role of chemistry, covering the following topics:

  • Overview of energy systems
  • Renewable electricity from wind and solar: Technology and Economics
  • Limits to renewable electricity: Intermittency and industrial emissions
  • From electrical energy to chemical energy: Batteries and electrolysis
  • Hydrogen to replace fossil fuels: Power-to-X
  • Gas grids, biogas and carbon capture
  • Materials challenges and recycling

 

The emphasis will be on understanding the scale of the global energy system, the available technologies and current challenges, and the role of innovation in the energy transition.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Explain the thermochemical processes interconverting heat, electricity, and fuels.
  • List and compare different types of electrolyzers for green hydrogen production.
  • Explain strategies for storing energy and for closing the carbon cycle.

 

Skills:

  • Calculate thermoeconomic descriptors such as emmissions payback time and total process efficiency in power-to-X technologies.
  • Determine prices and quantities of energy products from supply and demand.
  • Evaluate whether a technology is globally scalable based on resource considerations.

 

Competencies:

  • Describe the thermodynamic cycles of power plants and heat pumps.
  • Describe the energy flows in the electricity, heat, and gas grids.
  • Describe the basic economic principles governing energy markets.

Various handouts, articles, and book chapters. More information on Absalon.

It is recommended that the student is familiar with the contents of the course Thermodynamics and Kinetics (TermoKin) or Physical Chemistry for Biochemists or Thermodynamics (Termo)
Lectures, exercises, student presentations, and written project work.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 100
  • Theory exercises
  • 40
  • Project work
  • 25
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

Oral, continuous during semester

Feedback on written assignments (exercises and project work)

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 25 minutes (no preparation time)
Examination prerequisites
  • Hand-in and approval of at least 4 of the 6 calculation exercises
  • Completion of the project work.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Re-exam

Same as the ordinary exam.

Non-approved calculation exercises and project work must be submitted no later than 3 weeks before the re-examination and must be approved no later than 2 weeks before the re-examination.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome