About this course: Energy issues have always been important in international relations, but in recent years may have become even more important than in the past due to the widespread awareness of existing limits to energy sources and negative climate impacts. The course discusses global trends in energy consumption and production, various available scenarios for potential developments in the coming decades, the availability of oil reserves and the evolution of the oil industry. It then discusses natural gas and highlights the differences between oil and gas. It will also discuss renewable energy sources, nuclear energy and EU energy policy. The course aims at providing students whose main interest is in international relations a background on energy resources, technology and economic realities to allow them to correctly interpret the political impact of current developments. It also aims at providing students, who already have a technical background in energy science or engineering, with the broad global view of energy issues that will allow them to better understand the social, economic and political impact of their technical knowledge. ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR : Giacomo Luciani Scientific Advisor for the Master in International Energy at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) Sciences Po, Giacomo Luciani is also Adjunct Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva and Director of the Executive Master in International Oil and Gas Leadership. For the period 2010-13 he was appointed Princeton University Global Scholar, attached to the Woodrow Wilson School and the Department of Near Eastern Studies. His research focuses on the political economy of the Middle East and North Africa and on global energy issues. RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND : The course requires no special scientific, mathematical or economic background; all key concepts are clearly and elementarily explained. It is expected that it will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students in schools where an equivalent course is not offered (this being the case for the vast majority of schools). USPC Sorbonne Paris Cité Supported by Université Sorbonne Paris Cité IDEX Investissements d'Avenir Funded by Investissements d'Avenir - 'ANR. Info : Course content : Licence Creative Commons BY NC SA
Who is this class for: The course is very accessible to a wide public. But it will also provide a lot of resources for those who have an advanced level, like professionals and opinion leaders with an interest in international energy relations and policies. Energy is prominently present in the media almost every day and having a sound understanding of the nexus between technical and political considerations is essential to politicians, diplomats, journalists as well as executives of energy companies to correctly evaluate their options and strategies.
Created by: Sciences Po
Taught by: Giacomo Luciani, Professor and Scientific Advisor for the Master in International Energy
Paris School of International Affairs
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 8 weeks of study, 1-3 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: French |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Week #1 : Introduction to global energy trends and scenarios
This module presents the Introduction to global energy consumption, Energy scenarios, Energy transition and poverty
7 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Global energy consumption
- Video: What is a scenario ?
- Reading: Example #1: BP energy scenario
- Reading: Example #2: Shell energy scenario
- Reading: Example #3: IEA energy scenario
- Video: Energy transition
- Video: Interview with Professor Manfred Hafner part 1
- Video: Interview with Professor Manfred Hafner part 2
- Reading: COP 21
- Video: Energy poverty
- Reading: Fighting Poverty
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #1 :
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 2
Week #2 : Oil formation, exploration and production
This module presents the Introduction to oil formation and exploration, Oil extraction methods, Environmental management in oil production
7 videos, 7 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: How fossil fuels were formed ?
- Reading: How fossil fuels were formed ? External
- Video: Seismic exploration
- Reading: Seismic exploration External
- Video: How is oil extracted from the ground ?
- Reading: Traditional oil drilling method
- Reading: Offshore drilling method
- Reading: Hydraulic fracturing
- Reading: Oil sands
- Video: Environmental management in oil production
- Reading: Oil spill in the gulf of Mexico
- Video: Interview with Professor Nadine Bret-Rouzaut part 1
- Video: Interview with Professor Nadine Bret-Rouzaut part 2
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #2
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 3
Week #3 : Global oil reserves and resources
This module presents the Introduction to liquid fuels, Definition and issues about oil reserves, Oil production and the impact of non-conventional oil
11 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Classification of liquid fuels
- Video: Definition of oil reserves part 1
- Video: Definition of oil reserves part 2
- Reading: Issues about reserves
- Reading: The Kashagan case
- Video: Distribution of reserves
- Video: Oil production scenarios and the role of OPEC - part 1
- Video: Oil production scenarios and the role of OPEC - part 2
- Video: Recent evolution of oil production
- Reading: Shale oil revolution in the United States
- Video: Interview with Professor Jean-Pierre Favennec - part 1
- Video: Interview with Professor Jean-Pierre Favennec - part 2
- Video: Interview with Professor Jean-Pierre Favennec - part 3
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #3
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 4
Week #4 : The economics of natural gas
This module presents the Introduction to natural gas, The international gas market, New gas developments
7 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: What is natural gas and where is it found? - part 1
- Video: What is natural gas and where is it found? - part 2
- Video: Gas uses and gas networks
- Video: Gas transportation: pipelines and LNG
- Reading: Major FLNG and pipeline projects
- Video: Gas prices - part 1
- Video: Gas prices - part 2
- Reading: Shale and other unconventional gas
- Reading: Gas to liquids (GTL)
- Reading: Gas in transportation
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #4
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 5
Week #5 : The geopolitics of natural gas
This module presents the Introduction to geopolitics of gas, Geopolitics in the Far and Near Est
11 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Geopolitics of soviet gas and the collapse of soviet union
- Video: The Ukrainian crises of 2006 and 2009 and EU’s response
- Video: Russian initiatives to bypass the Ukraine
- Video: Opening the door to gas from the Southeast
- Reading: Gas Map
- Video: China and the geopolitics of gas in the Far East
- Video: Geopolitics of gas in the Near East
- Video: Recent evolution of gas production part 1
- Video: Recent evolution of gas production part 2
- Video: Interview with Professor Thierry Bros - part 1
- Video: Interview with Professor Thierry Bros - part 2
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #5
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 6
Week#6 : Renewable energy sources
This module presents the Introduction to renewable energy, Types of renewable energy, Renewable energy integration, Energy efficiency
7 videos, 6 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 1
- Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 2
- Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 3
- Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 4
- Reading: Renewable sources for heat
- Reading: Renewable sources for transport
- Video: Renewable sources for power generation: Hydro
- Reading: Renewable sources for power generation: Solar and wind
- Video: Intermittency and system integration
- Reading: Power storage
- Reading: Energy Efficiency: Buildings
- Reading: Energy Efficiency: Electric Vehicles (EV)
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #6
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 7
Week #7 : Nuclear Energy
This module presents the Introduction to Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy for electricity generation, Safety of Nuclear Energy
8 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Reading: Atoms for peace - President Eisenhower
- Video: The Rationale for Nuclear Energy
- Video: The Economics of Nuclear Energy
- Video: Nuclear Energy after Fukushima
- Reading: The disposal of Nuclear waste
- Video: Interview with Professor Bertrand Barré - part 1
- Video: Interview with Professor Bertrand Barré - part 2
- Video: Nuclear Energy and non-proliferation
- Video: Alternative Nuclear technologies
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #7
Graded: Quiz Assessment
WEEK 8
Week #8 : Dilemmas of (European) energy policy
This module presents the Introduction to energy policy, The three pillars of EU energy policy
5 videos, 3 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Energy in the European Union
- Reading: A new chance for Europe ?
- Reading: The price of electricity / Le montant de la facture
- Video: Energy and competitiveness
- Video: Energy security of supply
- Video: Towards a low-carbon economy
- Reading: Paris agreement impact
- Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #8
Graded: Quiz Assessment
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Sciences Po
Founded in 1872, Sciences Po is France's leading university in the social sciences. For over 140 years, Sciences Po has educated decision-makers of the public and private sectors.
Sciences Po is differentiated by its strongly international character: of the 13,000 students in the institution, 46% are international students originating from 150 countries. Sciences Po also holds a high standard of social responsibility and continues to play a pioneering role in the promotion of diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. 30% of the student body receive financial aid at Sciences Po. In 2000, this number was 6%.
Over the last decade, Sciences Po has integrated digital tools into its programmes (shared work spaces, eCourses, Moodle, online map library, Controversy Mapping, Forccast Project, etc.) and has naturally migrated towards MOOC teaching platforms as well as other innovative teaching methods.
Ratings and Reviews
With this course I have been able to better understand the role of energy in the development of the countries, and in a clear and simple way I have managed to understand how renewable energies work.
Super interesting course, I realy enjoy it, thanks Giacomo and all Sciences Po staff.
An excellent introduction to the subjects. Perhaps the emphasis on Europe is high in proportion to the rest of the world. Little information about developing countries.
More extra readings and references would be appreciated.
Some of the link to video resources no longer work.
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VW
Excellent introduction to a complicated topic. As energy is one of the most important topics of international relations, taking this course also allows a larger understanding of current geopolitical conflicts.