TEK9430 – Innovation in Energy Technologies
Course description
Course content
Innovation is a tool to develop solutions to current and future challenges. Especially in the field of energy systems, needs and technologies evolve at such a fast pace that the challenges of tomorrow can be difficult to predict. With a substantial increase of renewable energy (RE) penetration, the question is no longer "if" energy systems of the future will change, but "how".
In this course, you will be introduced to practical examples of innovations in energy technologies and systems, and learn concepts and perspectives from innovation systems scholars. We will look at innovative energy technologies not as separate entities, but as made up of systems of related technological and non-technological elements where we also need to understand the social drivers and barriers in technological change in energy and energy systems, including markets, institutional conditions, consumer preferences/behaviors and more. Emphasis is put on the concept "technological innovation system" and "socio-technical" transitions.
Learning outcome
The course is interdisciplinary, at the intersection of technical and social fields of knowledge. After completing the course, you will have
- a basic understanding of innovation as a concept, of technological innovation systems analysis, and of socio-technical perspective on technological change??
- a basic understanding of trends in innovation in energy technologies and systems
- analytical and methodological skills in applying interdisciplinary perspectives on innovation on real cases of energy technology innovation processes
- a critical appraisal of non-technological aspects of technological innovation, including an understanding of ethics and governance of innovation in energy technology
- an understanding of innovative energy technologies as socio-technical development, scale-up and diffusion processes
- experience in presenting your findings to an audience
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
The courses TEK5430 and TEK9430 have a shared capacity of 30 places.?Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
Master students in the Renewable Energy Systems programme?and Ph.d students at the Department of Technology Systems
Other master's students and PhD candidates with the course as part of their approved curriculum
Other students
Applicants are ranked based on credits in each group. All applicants within group 1 are ranked before applicants falling within group 2, and so on. For students with the same number of credits within each group, admission is determined through a random draw.
Recommended previous knowledge
You should have a bachelor's degree from the natural sciences or relevant background from the social sciences (e.g. entrepreneurship, innovation studies or science and technology studies).?
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with TEK5430 – Innovation in Energy Technologies.
Teaching
Lectures and group work over 1 full week early the semester
During the course, specific case studies will be analyzed in project-based group work under the guidance of international guests, experts in innovation, and experts from academia and industry. Results of the group work will be part of the syllabus that is tested in the final oral exam, and must be approved before you can sit the exam.
As a PhD candidate, you will also go deeper into one of the case studies, and will be required to make a presentation of this either orally or in writing.
Examination
A final oral exam counts 100% towards the final?grade.
This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
When writing your exercises make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules for use of sources and citations. Breach of these rules may lead to suspicion of attempted cheating.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course:
Examination support material
You are allowed your course materials, such as articles, written materials and slides provided by the lecturers, during the exam.?
Language of examination
Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.