LV EN RU DE FR

ECONOMY OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Ekon3142, Bioeconomics

Course abstract

The course aims to include the review and analysis of production and utilisation possibilities and resources of fossil and renewable energy. It focuses on the global, European and Latvian production trends of sustainable energy, resources, technologies and solutions for complete and effective use of produced energy. During the course, students learn about the conditions and economic basis of producing and using sustainable energy, technologies and production resources as well as the support policy and support measures in promoting the production and use of sustainable energy.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to: demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of the role and classification of and usage conditions for sustainable energy – test, group assignments, discussions.
Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of technical, geopolitical and social preconditions for the use of various kinds of sustainable energy – test, group assignments, independent assignment.
Ability to analytically describe conditions for production and use of sustainable energy – group and independent assignments, discussions.
Develop proposals for the use of sustainable energy on the regional/ enterprise/ household level – independent assignment.
Understand how obtained knowledge in the study course can be applied in practice – test (about the field trip).
Work in a team and take initiative – practical assignments, discussions in groups.
Independently structure their own learning – independent assignment.

Ability to independently find information and apply it for an analysis of the economically viable possibilities for production and use of sustainable energy – independent assignment.

Course Content(Calendar)

In full-time studies:
1. Types of energy, energy resources, their classification. The concept of energy, classification, units of measurement and importance in the national economy. Energy economy: formation of reserves, depletion, efficiency of use, extraction, sustainability. Fossil and renewable energy, distribution and overall structure of energy resources and energy derived from them. (Lectures 2 hours; practical work 1 hour)
2. Energy market, global, EU and Latvian energy resources, their demand and supply. Energy policy: geography of resources, importance of infrastructure, balancing, policy measures and strategies, contracts and agreements. Overview of the overall energy market, the geographic availability of energy resources and the geographic intensity of demand for energy resources. International relations for the regulation of energy supply and demand. Global, EU and Latvian energy market analysis. (Lectures 2 hours; practical work 1 hour)
3. Principles and conditions the use of sustainable energy. Cascading of energy resources. Energy consumption and energy efficiency. Environmental and climate impacts of energy production. (Lectures 2 hours; study tour 2 hours, test 1 hour)
4. Sources and use of renewable energy, renewable energy in the overall structure of energy bilance. Renewable energy resources and ways of their utilisation, availability of renewable energy resources in Latvia. (Lectures 2 hours)
5. Solar energy, its use for energy production, technologies, statistics and economic efficiency conditions. Geographical and climatic conditions of solar energy use. Production of electricity from solar energy, solar cells. Solar collectors and use of solar energy for heating and hot water production. Possibilities of using solar energy in Latvia. Use of solar energy in households. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
6. Wind energy, its use for energy production, technologies, usage statistics and conditions of economic efficiency. Geographical and climatic conditions of wind energy production. Wind energy production technologies, conditions of economic efficiency and wind energy production statistics in Latvia. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
7. Hydro energy, its use for energy production, technologies, usage statistics and conditions of economic efficiency. Geographical conditions for the use of hydropower. Hydro energy use technologies, conditions of economic efficiency and hydro energy use statistics in Latvia. Large HPPs in the Daugava cascade and small HPPs in Latvia. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
8. Energy from biogas, its use for energy production, technologies, usage statistics and economic efficiency conditions. Conditions for producing biogas energy and required resources. Biogas energy production technologies, conditions of economic efficiency and biogas energy production statistics in Latvia. Cogeneration. Efficient and complete use of the obtained electricity and thermal energy. Types and systems of heat energy use. Use of digestate. Upscaling and use of biogas in transport. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
9. Biomass energy, its use for energy production, technologies, usage statistics and economic efficiency conditions. Conditions and required resources for biomass energy production. Biomass energy production technologies, conditions of economic efficiency and biomass energy production statistics in Latvia. Efficient and complete use of the obtained electricity and thermal energy. Types and systems of using heat obtained in cogeneration. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
10. High efficiency and innovative technologies for renewable energy production. Increasing the efficiency of renewable energy production by using high-efficiency technologies and fully utilizing the energy obtained in cogeneration. Innovative technologies for the production of renewable energy, conceptual technologies and studies of technologies for the use of renewable energy. Sustainable use of new generation nuclear energy. Use of hydrogen for energy production. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
11. Sustainable energy production support measures in the world, EU and Latvia. The need for support for sustainable energy production, political documents that determine the distribution and amount of support. Sustainable energy production measures in Latvia, conditions for receiving support, support instruments. Support intensity depending on the resources used or the type of energy production. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour)
12. Energy communities, integrated use of sustainable energy and increasing the efficiency of energy use. Integrated use of renewable energy in households, urban areas and production enterprises, incl. in agriculture. Sustainable energy production and increasing the efficiency of renewable energy production and use. (Lectures 1 hour; practical work 1 hour, final thesis presentation during practical work 2 hours)

In part-time studies:
All topics indicated for full-time studies are implemented, but the number of contact hours is 1/2 of the indicated hours for full-time studies.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Group assignment and a presentation of the assignment, test about the field trip and test about technological and economic assumptions in the use of sustainable energy, individual assignment and its presentation.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent work individually and in a group is elaborated according to the directions provided in e-study system for this study course and presented during the practical work.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

10 points corresponds to 1 grade in a scale of 10. Total maximal amount of points is 100 and they are distributed as follows: Group assignment, a presentation 30 points; test about the field trip 10 points; test about technological and economic assumptions in the use of sustainable energy 30 points; individual assignment and presentation 30 points.

Compulsory reading

1. Bioekonomika: attīstības ceļvedis: monogrāfija / Dina Popluga [un vēl 6 autori]; galvenais redaktors: Kaspars Naglis-Liepa. Jelgava: Latvijas Biozinātņu un tehnoloģiju universitāte, 2024. 185 lpp. ISBN: 978-9984-48-434-1
2. Roorda, N. (2017) Fundamentals of Sustainable Development. 2nd edition. New York: Routledge, p. 382.
3. Pelše, M., Naglis-Liepa, K., Strīķis, V., Leikučš, J.(2012) Atjaunojamās enerģijas izmantošanas ekonomiskais izvērtējums ilgtspējīgas attīstības kontekstā. Jelgava: LLU, 85 lpp.
4. Atjaunojamā enerģija un tās efektīva izmantošana Latvijā. (2012) Monogrāfija. Red.: P.Rivža, Jelgava: LLU, 391 lpp.
5. Atstāja, Dz., Dimante, Dž., u.c. Vide un ekonomika. Monogrāfija. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds. 2011, 256 lpp.
6. Nacionālais enerģētikas un klimata plāns 2021.-2030.gadam (2019) Ekonomikas ministrija. Pieejams: https://www.em.gov.lv/lv/nacionalais-energetikas-un-klimata-plans

7. Energy strategy, EU, Pieejams: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-strategy_en

Further reading

1. Jaunais energomarķējums. Ceļvedis valsts institūcijām un profesionāliem pircējiem. Pieejams: https://www.label2020.lv/fileadmin/lv/dokumenti/T4.6._guideline_V4.pdf

2. Salman, M., Abdelfattah, A., Ahmad, W., Simongini, C. (2022) The use of solar energy in irrigated agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, p 90. Pieejams: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8459en/cb8459en.pdf

Periodicals and other sources

1. Electricity maps. Pieejams: https://app.electricitymaps.com

2. Energy dashboard. Pieejams: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/infographs/energy_dashboard/endash.html?geo=EU27_2020&year=2021&language=EN&detail=1&nrg_bal=&unit=MTOE&chart=chart_one,chart_two,chart_tree,chart_four,chart_five,chart_eight&modal=0

Notes

Restricted elective course for the ESAF academic bachelor programme Economics, specialization Sustainable Economy and Territorial Development.