Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Engineering the Energy Transition

Description

This lecture explores the innovative solutions developed by EPFL engineers to tackle the energy transition problem, focusing on renewable resources, circularity, and waste-water-energy integration. It covers topics such as fossil carbon budget, CO2 emissions in Switzerland, energy needs, and learning from nature. The instructor presents case studies on biomass-based fuel production, heat pump integration, and district-level energy management. The lecture also discusses the challenges and opportunities of defossilizing industries through industrial symbiosis and circular economy.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Environmental science

Environmental policy: Topics in environmental policy

Mechanical engineering

Thermal engineering: Air conditioning

Related concepts (32)

Heat pump

A heat pump is a device that uses work to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space by transferring thermal energy using a refrigeration cycle, cooling the cool space and warming the warm space. In cold weather a heat pump can move heat from the cool outdoors to warm a house; the pump may also be designed to move heat from the house to the warmer outdoors in warm weather. As they transfer heat rather than generating heat, they are more energy-efficient than other ways of heating a home.

Energy transition

An energy transition (or energy system transformation) is a significant structural change in an energy system regarding supply and consumption. Currently, a transition to sustainable energy (mostly renewable energy) is underway to limit climate change. It is also called renewable energy transition. The current transition is driven by a recognition that global greenhouse-gas emissions must be drastically reduced. This process involves phasing-down fossil fuels and re-developing whole systems to operate on low carbon electricity.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is energy from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. Renewable resources include sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy sources are sustainable, some are not. For example, some biomass sources are considered unsustainable at current rates of exploitation. Renewable energy is often used for electricity generation, heating and cooling.

Energy development

Energy development is the field of activities focused on obtaining sources of energy from natural resources. These activities include the production of renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuel derived sources of energy, and for the recovery and reuse of energy that would otherwise be wasted. Energy conservation and efficiency measures reduce the demand for energy development, and can have benefits to society with improvements to environmental issues.

Air source heat pump

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a type of heat pump that can absorb heat from outside a structure and release it inside using the same vapor-compression refrigeration process and much the same equipment as air conditioners but used in the opposite direction. Unlike an air conditioning unit, most ASHPs are reversible and are able to either warm or cool buildings and in some cases also provide domestic hot water. In a typical setting, an ASHP can gain 4 kWh thermal energy from 1 kWh electric energy.

Related lectures (54)

Energy Efficiency in Buildings MOOC: SES Swiss-Energyscope

Explores energy efficiency in buildings through active measures, efficient lighting, and ventilation systems.

Carbon Cycle: CO2 Storage & Volcanic Emissions

Delves into the carbon cycle, CO2 storage, volcanic emissions, human impact, and nature-inspired solutions for reducing emissions.

Energy Efficiency in Industry MOOC: SES Swiss-Energyscope

Explores energy efficiency in industry, covering final energy consumption, industrial sectors, technology efficiency, heat demand, re-use, and primary energy sources.

Energy Independence: Solutions for Switzerland's Future

Addresses Switzerland's need for energy independence and explores sustainable solutions through renewable energy and carbon management strategies.

CO2 and Energy Systems