Politics and Economics of International Energy

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 4.7 stars Average User Rating 4.7See what learners said Coursework

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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.

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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: Global energy consumption
3. Video: What is a scenario ?
4. Reading: Example #1: BP energy scenario
5. Reading: Example #2: Shell energy scenario
6. Reading: Example #3: IEA energy scenario
7. Video: Energy transition
8. Video: Interview with Professor Manfred Hafner part 1
9. Video: Interview with Professor Manfred Hafner part 2
10. Reading: COP 21
11. Video: Energy poverty
12. Reading: Fighting Poverty
13. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: How fossil fuels were formed ?
3. Reading: How fossil fuels were formed ? External
4. Video: Seismic exploration
5. Reading: Seismic exploration External
6. Video: How is oil extracted from the ground ?
7. Reading: Traditional oil drilling method
8. Reading: Offshore drilling method
9. Reading: Hydraulic fracturing
10. Reading: Oil sands
11. Video: Environmental management in oil production
12. Reading: Oil spill in the gulf of Mexico
13. Video: Interview with Professor Nadine Bret-Rouzaut part 1
14. Video: Interview with Professor Nadine Bret-Rouzaut part 2
15. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: Classification of liquid fuels
3. Video: Definition of oil reserves part 1
4. Video: Definition of oil reserves part 2
5. Reading: Issues about reserves
6. Reading: The Kashagan case
7. Video: Distribution of reserves
8. Video: Oil production scenarios and the role of OPEC - part 1
9. Video: Oil production scenarios and the role of OPEC - part 2
10. Video: Recent evolution of oil production
11. Reading: Shale oil revolution in the United States
12. Video: Interview with Professor Jean-Pierre Favennec - part 1
13. Video: Interview with Professor Jean-Pierre Favennec - part 2
14. Video: Interview with Professor Jean-Pierre Favennec - part 3
15. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: What is natural gas and where is it found? - part 1
3. Video: What is natural gas and where is it found? - part 2
4. Video: Gas uses and gas networks
5. Video: Gas transportation: pipelines and LNG
6. Reading: Major FLNG and pipeline projects
7. Video: Gas prices - part 1
8. Video: Gas prices - part 2
9. Reading: Shale and other unconventional gas
10. Reading: Gas to liquids (GTL)
11. Reading: Gas in transportation
12. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: Geopolitics of soviet gas and the collapse of soviet union
3. Video: The Ukrainian crises of 2006 and 2009 and EU’s response
4. Video: Russian initiatives to bypass the Ukraine
5. Video: Opening the door to gas from the Southeast
6. Reading: Gas Map
7. Video: China and the geopolitics of gas in the Far East
8. Video: Geopolitics of gas in the Near East
9. Video: Recent evolution of gas production part 1
10. Video: Recent evolution of gas production part 2
11. Video: Interview with Professor Thierry Bros - part 1
12. Video: Interview with Professor Thierry Bros - part 2
13. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 1
3. Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 2
4. Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 3
5. Video: The multiple sources of renewable energy - part 4
6. Reading: Renewable sources for heat
7. Reading: Renewable sources for transport
8. Video: Renewable sources for power generation: Hydro
9. Reading: Renewable sources for power generation: Solar and wind
10. Video: Intermittency and system integration
11. Reading: Power storage
12. Reading: Energy Efficiency: Buildings
13. Reading: Energy Efficiency: Electric Vehicles (EV)
14. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Reading: Atoms for peace - President Eisenhower
3. Video: The Rationale for Nuclear Energy
4. Video: The Economics of Nuclear Energy
5. Video: Nuclear Energy after Fukushima
6. Reading: The disposal of Nuclear waste
7. Video: Interview with Professor Bertrand Barré - part 1
8. Video: Interview with Professor Bertrand Barré - part 2
9. Video: Nuclear Energy and non-proliferation
10. Video: Alternative Nuclear technologies
11. 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 expand

1. Video: Introduction
2. Video: Energy in the European Union
3. Reading: A new chance for Europe ?
4. Reading: The price of electricity / Le montant de la facture
5. Video: Energy and competitiveness
6. Video: Energy security of supply
7. Video: Towards a low-carbon economy
8. Reading: Paris agreement impact
9. Discussion Prompt: Discussion week #8

Graded: Quiz Assessment