Tobias Schmidt: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2017

Award: The Golden Owl
Name Prof. Dr. Tobias Schmidt
FieldEnergy and Technology Policy
Address
Energie- und Technologiepolitik
ETH Zürich, CLD C 12.1
Clausiusstrasse 37
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 04 86
E-mailtobiasschmidt@ethz.ch
URLhttp://www.epg.ethz.ch
DepartmentHumanities, Social and Political Sciences
RelationshipAssociate Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
151-0928-00LCO2 Capture and Storage and the Industry of Carbon-Based Resources4 credits3GM. Mazzotti, L. Bretschger, R. Knutti, C. Müller, M. Repmann, T. Schmidt, D. Sutter
AbstractCarbon-based resources (coal, oil, gas): origin, production, processing, resource economics. Climate change: science, policies. CCS systems: CO2 capture in power/industrial plants, CO2 transport and storage. Besides technical details, economical, legal and societal aspects are considered (e.g. electricity markets, barriers to deployment).
ObjectiveThe goal of the lecture is to introduce carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) systems, the technical solutions developed so far and the current research questions. This is done in the context of the origin, production, processing and economics of carbon-based resources, and of climate change issues. After this course, students are familiar with important technical and non-technical issues related to use of carbon resources, climate change, and CCS as a transitional mitigation measure.

The class will be structured in 2 hours of lecture and one hour of exercises/discussion. At the end of the semester a group project is planned.
ContentBoth the Swiss and the European energy system face a number of significant challenges over the coming decades. The major concerns are the security and economy of energy supply and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuels will continue to satisfy the largest part of the energy demand in the medium term for Europe, and they could become part of the Swiss energy portfolio due to the planned phase out of nuclear power. Carbon capture and storage is considered an important option for the decarbonization of the power sector and it is the only way to reduce emissions in CO2 intensive industrial plants (e.g. cement- and steel production).
Building on the previously offered class "Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS)", we have added two specific topics: 1) the industry of carbon-based resources, i.e. what is upstream of the CCS value chain, and 2) the science of climate change, i.e. why and how CO2 emissions are a problem.
The course is devided into four parts:
I) The first part will be dedicated to the origin, production, and processing of conventional as well as of unconventional carbon-based resources.
II) The second part will comprise two lectures from experts in the field of climate change sciences and resource economics.
III) The third part will explain the technical details of CO2 capture (current and future options) as well as of CO2 storage and utilization options, taking again also economical, legal, and sociatel aspects into consideration.
IV) The fourth part will comprise two lectures from industry experts, one with focus on electricity markets, the other on the experiences made with CCS technologies in the industry.
Throughout the class, time will be allocated to work on a number of tasks related to the theory, individually, in groups, or in plenum. Moreover, the students will apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the course in a case study covering all the topics.
Lecture notesPower Point slides and distributed handouts
LiteratureIPCC AR5 Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report, 2014. www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

IPCC Special Report on Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage, 2005. www.ipcc.ch/activity/srccs/index.htm

The Global Status of CCS: 2014. Published by the Global CCS Institute, Nov 2014.
http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/publications/global-status-ccs-2014
Prerequisites / NoticeExternal lecturers from the industry and other institutes will contribute with specialized lectures according to the schedule distributed at the beginning of the semester.
227-0664-00LTechnology and Policy of Electrical Energy Storage Information 3 credits2GV. Wood, T. Schmidt
AbstractWith the global emphasis on decreasing CO2 emissions, achieving fossil fuel independence and growing the use of renewables, developing & implementing energy storage solutions for electric mobility & grid stabilization represent a key technology & policy challenge. This course primarily uses lithium ion batteries as a case study to understand the interplay between technology, economics & policy.
ObjectiveThe students will learn of the complexity involved in battery research, design, production, as well as in investment, economics and policy making around batteries. Students from technical disciplines will gain insights into policy, while students from social science backgrounds will gain insights into technology.
ContentWith the global emphasis on decreasing CO2 emissions, achieving fossil fuel independence, and integrating renewables on the electric grid, developing and implementing energy storage solutions for electric mobility and grid stabilization represent a key technology and policy challenge. The class will focus on lithium ion batteries since they are poised to enter a variety of markets where policy decisions will affect their production, adoption, and usage scenarios. The course considers the interplay between technology, economics, and policy.

* intro to energy storage for electric mobility and grid-stabilization
* basics of battery operation, manufacturing, and integration
* hands-on fabrication and testing of a cell
* intro to the role of policy for energy storage innovation & diffusion
* discussion of complexities involved in policy and politics of energy storage
Lecture notesMaterials will be made available on the website.
LiteratureMaterials will be made available on the website.
Prerequisites / NoticeStrong interest in energy and technology policy.
851-0609-04LThe Energy Challenge - The Role of Technology, Business and Society Information
Prerequisites: Knowledge in Economics and Environmental Issues is obligatory.
Particularly suitable for students D-BAUG, ITET, MAVT, USYS
2 credits2VR. Schubert, T. Schmidt, J. Schmitz
AbstractIn recent years, energy security, risks, access and availability are important issues. Strongly redirecting and accelerating technological change on a sustainable low-carbon path is essential. The transformation of current energy systems into sustainable ones is not only a question of technology but also of the goals and influences of important actors like business, politics and society.
ObjectiveIn this course different options of sustainable energy systems like fossile energies, nuclear energy or all sorts of renewable energies are explained and discussed. The students should be able to understand and identify advantages and disadvantages of the different technological options and discuss their relevance in the business as well as in the societal context.
Lecture notesMaterials will be made available on the electronic learning platform: www.vwl.ethz.ch
LiteratureMaterials will be made available on the electronic learning platform: www.vwl.ethz.ch
Prerequisites / NoticeVarious lectures from different disciplines.
860-0014-00LPaper Project on Technology and Policy of Electric Energy Storage Restricted registration - show details
Requirement: Only students who have visited the course 227-0664-00L and passed the test at the end of the semester, may sign up for this course.
3 credits1AT. Schmidt, V. Wood
AbstractPaper project on a topic related to main lecture Technology and Policy of Electric Energy Storage. Can only be taken when enrolled in the main lecture.
ObjectiveThe students will choose either a technology or a policy and elaborate on various aspects. The technology questions will include policy aspects; the policy questions will be closely related technological diffusion and innovation.
Lecture notesMaterials will be made available through polybox.
LiteratureMaterials will be made available through polybox.
Prerequisites / NoticeSuccessful completion of Technology and Policy of Electric Energy Storage lecture (227-0664-00L).
860-0020-00LWinter School: Low-Carbon Energy and Development Strategies Restricted registration - show details
Limited number of spaces. Registration with ETH Global E4D Winter School.

Open for master and doctoral students of all departments with a background in energy, development and public policy.

Note that D-GESS cannot grant the 4 ECTS credits directly. Your home department decides whether the credits will be grated. We will provide you with a certificate of successful course completion.
4 credits8ST. Schmidt
AbstractAfter an introduction to the topic and its relevance, the winter school will cover 4 subthemes related to energy and development:
(1) Energy systems, low-carbon energy technologies and public policy
(2) Fossil fuel subsidies and their reform
(3) Electricity access technologies and policies
(4) Development benefits and safeguarding of LCEDS
ObjectiveStudents will understand the multi-faceted challenges of developing and implementing a low-carbon energy development strategy (LCEDS) and how to address them. During the three weeks, they will develop LCEDS for specific countries in interdisciplinary teams, as if they were consultants to the national governments of these countries. They will integrate technical, socio-economic, and policy knowledge. The students' LCEDS proposals will be evaluated at the end of the three weeks by a team of experts.
ContentThe correlation between consumption of modern forms of energy and long-term economic growth and development is well documented. Yet so too is the historic correlation between economic growth and adverse environmental impacts, such as climate change. Low-carbon energy and development strategies (LCEDS) that decouple energy use from greenhouse gas emissions and therefore enable green economic development are therefore becoming an important new paradigm for national policymakers. In this winter school, students develop LCEDS which could support national policy decisions.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe winter school will take place outside of Switzerland and during the exam session. You cannot register if you need to take important exams during the exam period.
The following ETH Master courses are relevant: MEST, ISTP, MA CIS, MTEC, all engineering types (esp. BAUG, ITET, MAVT