Sustainability, climate and energy

Topic: 

Introduction to the course

The climate system

Earth's energy balance

Greenhouse gases and aerosols

Topic:

Introduction to energy systems.

Energy balance fundamentals.

Topic: 

Radiative forcing.

Feedback mechanisms.

Climate sensitivity.

Topic:

Overview of energy technologies.

Topic:

Climate archives: geological to millennial time scales.

First part of afternoon exercise:

Conference by Michael Sigl.

Second part of afternoon exercise:

QCM evaluation, it will be graded.

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Warning ! The exercise session on March 18^th from 13:15 to 15:00 will take place in room GC A3 30 instead of the usual room DIA005.

From 13:15 to 14:00, we will have the conference by Prof. Michael Sigl from the University of Bern, entitled : “ Storylines of global volcanic risks”. 

We encourage all of you to attend. Prof. Sigl is one of the main international specialists of the history and impact of volcanic eruptions on Earth’s climate. He will also address the risks of such major eruptions for the next decades.

From 14:15 to 15:00, we organize a first evaluation which will make for 20% of your final grade.

The evaluation will address the first four weeks of lectures and exercises. It will NOT include the course of March 18^th morning.

Guidelines are:

• You will answer different questions with multiple choice.
• Some questions may have several correct choices.
• A few questions will require you to write a short text.
• The number of points for each question will be indicated next to it.
• You will be allowed to bring with you (1) one A4 page of notes (back and front) and (2) a calculator.
• You will NOT be allowed to use phones, tablets, connected watches or computers.
• You will write your SCIPER number on each distributed page of the exam document.
• We will not apply negative notation.

Here is an example of a simple question on the climate part of the course:

The current amount of warming of the Earth, as measured by monitoring stations on land and at the surface of oceans, is determined with respect to the reference period:

A.      1800-1900

B.      1850-1900

C.      1870-1900

D.      1950-1980

Here is an example of a simple question on the energy part of the course:

A wind farm uses turbines rated at 2.5 MW with a 28% capacity factor. To produce 150 GWh per year, how many turbines are required?

A.      20 turbines

B.      25 turbines

C.       30 turbines

D.      35 turbines

Topic:

Climate variability.

Climate change scenarios.

Carbon cycle feedbacks.

Topic:

Technologies' impacts.

1st part of afternoon exercise:

Conference by Alexis Quentin.

Topic:

Tipping points.

Extreme events.

Regional climate change.

Morning session:

PowerPlay game with Jérôme Castella (Watted)

We will participate in PowerPlay, an interactive workshop created by WattEd that explores the complex challenges of energy transition.

What you'll experience:

• A collaborative simulation where you'll make strategic investments in various energy production methods
• Decision-making about efficiency and conservation measures
• Balancing technical constraints, financial limitations, and population needs
• Working together to meet Climate Law requirements and Paris Agreement targets

The workshop uses simplified, accurate concepts based on Switzerland's energy situation and recent research. After playing, we'll have a facilitated discussion to analyze aspects not covered in the simulation, strengthen critical thinking skills regarding misinformation, reinforce your knowledge, and share reflections with fellow participants.

Please be on time to make sure you can start on time.

Afternoon exercises:

Some kind of different too - we will make an experimental approach combining LLM/AI to assess the following points in current research:

• Climate change impacts on renewable energy systems.
• Impacts of renewable energy systems on climate.

Interruption of classes

IMPORTANT: FIELD TRIP CANCELLED/REPORTED (TBD) DUE TO AVALANCHES

Back-up Topic of this week

• Debriefing and Discussion Climate Change and Energy Systems - LLM Exercise
• Project Start

Topic:

Field visit: floating solar platform and dam in Valais, with Romande Energie.

Note that the field visit may be exchanged with the course on 6 May, depending on weather.

Practical information:

1) We will all leave by bus from the EPFL campus in Ecublens. Meeting point : Bus stop situated Avenue Piccard.

Departure at 8h00 sharp. No second chance given because of late arrival...

2) Prepare an individual picnic put in a backpack, with a bottle of water. We will not provide food on site, nor drinkable water. There is no store on site. So be prepared ! If the weather is fine enough, we'll picnic on the edge of the lake.

3) Take warm clothes with you ! Lac des Toules is located at 1,800 m of altitude. If it is windy, the environment can be quite chilly. As we'll have explanations given outside in front of the dam by Romande Energie staff, and as you'll stand during these times, a good protection with warm clothes (including a warm hat and gloves) and possibly a windstopper can help a lot...

4) Take comfortable walking shoes suitable enough to walk on a mountain trail. We'll have a 20 min walk to the lake, and about 30 min walk back to the bus. The trail could be a bit muddy, so try to avoid standard sport shoes being too slippy and not water-tight.

We will be back at the bus stop of Avenue Piccard on the EPFL campus of Ecublens at 16h00 maximum.

Topic: Project Work

• Morning: Project Group Work 09:00-12:00
• Afternoon: Q&A on demand

Topic: Project Work

• Morning: Project Group Work 09:00-12:00
• Afternoon: Q&A on demand

Poster Presentation Project

• Presentation format to be defined
• Illustrate your reflections on how you achieve a sustainable and resilient energy transition
• Poster to be projected on the beamer (A0, horizontal)

Topic: Lac des Toules is back ! Green light from Romande Energie !