Transforming Energy Systems: Why Governance Matters (FutureLearn)

Offered by University of Exeter,
Transforming Energy Systems: Why Governance Matters (FutureLearn)

Tackling climate change demands profound and rapid energy system transformation. Discover how effective governance enables this. Understand the importance of governance for rapid energy system decarbonisation. Energy governance includes the rules, regulations, institutions and politics that affect energy system change. Effective governance is key to the transformation of energy systems in order to tackle climate change with the urgency that’s needed.

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On this course, you will explore how and why energy systems need to change, and what this means for security, people and costs. You will also learn about the key elements of effective energy governance and explore real-life examples of energy governance from around the world.

What topics will you cover?

Energy System Transformation: changes, challenges and governance

  • What energy systems are for and how they work
  • Links between energy systems, climate change, air pollution and equity
  • Exploring energy system change through a 4D approach (decarbonisation, decentralisation, digitisation and democratisation)
  • The role of energy governance in system transformation

Emerging Energy Systems

  • How are the characteristics and operation of energy systems changing
  • What does a smart and flexible future look like
  • Changing value flows and new business models within energy systems
  • What does the energy transformation mean for current institutions?

People, Scale and Society

  • How is the role of people within energy systems changing?
  • What is meaningful consent and why is it so important?
  • What is local energy, why is growing in importance and what are the implications of this?
  • How can we best coordinate change across multiple levels of the energy system?

Energy governance change for rapid decarbonisation

  • How to co-ordinating the governance of electricity, heat and transport
  • The importance of a people-focused energy system, and how to get it
  • Examples of good energy governance from other countries
  • A fit-for purpose energy governance framework for energy system transformation

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Explore the need for energy system transformation, ways to achieve it and the role of governance within it
  • Describe how the characteristics of energy systems are changing as they become smarter and flexible and what this means for institutions and system value streams
  • Explore how energy systems are becoming more localised and closer to people, and what the implications of this are for coordinating change
  • Identify what governance change is required to deliver a sustainable, equitable, affordable and secure energy system
  • Apply your knowledge of governance to identify suitable changes for rapid decarbonisation
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