This module reviews a range of topical debates on the relationships between society, space and energy. Energy practices, systems and flows are essential to sustain modern societies. They are more than technical; they influence the economy, politics and wellbeing of space at different scale - from the scale of the global to the scale of a household. Post-carbon energy transition - one of the greatest challenges of this century - adds a further degree of complexity to the architecture of energy as socio-technical systems. The module considers how energy practices are shaped by social activities and how they further exert their influence on communities and places. It also critically interrogates the role of energy transitions in the capitalist political economy, including material and discursive tensions that arise from energy innovations, policies and practices. Various aspects are unpacked in this relation: energy governance, fossil fuel and renewable supply systems, energy security, energy and climate change, energy demand and energy efficiency, energy justice and inequalities, low-carbon and eco cities, community and renewable energy.

1. Identify key geographical issues arising from the energy practices;

2. Develop a critical understanding of the geographies of low-carbon and post-carbon energy transitions;

3. Understand innovations, policies, interests, and contradictions involved in low-carbon energy transitions;

4. Be able to demonstrate the achievement of those learning outcomes in both individual and group work.

The module is delivered through a set of lectures, seminars, guided readings and group work activities, which in their combination contribute to students’ achievement of the learning outcomes.

Analytical skills as related to the understanding of energy geographies;

•           Ability to apply complex geographical ideas to concrete social practices and evaluation of policy developments;

•           Critical thinking skills and ability to analyse contemporary developments as a critical and responsible citizen;

•           Enquiry-based learning skills achieved through individual assignments;

•           Presentation and oral communication skills achieved through group presentations and engagement in seminars;

•           Group working skills achieved through working on joint group projects.

Type of assessment

%

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Group presentation

25%

Group presentation and debate

Max 20 minutes

Spring

Essay

75%

A choice of topics based on the module

3000 words

Spring

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

Students are permitted to be reassessed in a module which they have failed, in line with the course regulations. The reassessment will usually take place during the summer.

The module will cover the following topics:

• The interplay of energy and geography;
• The rise of carbon capitalism;
• Low-carbon energy transitions;
• Energy security and geopolitics;
• Energy justice and inequality;
• Politics of carbon and non-carbon energies;
• Low carbon and eco cities and planning;
• Communities and renewable energy;
• Energy governance in Cardiff, Wales, the UK, the EU and globally.

• Sovacool, B.K, Sidortsov, R.V. and B.R. Jones (2014) Energy Security, Equality and Justice. London: Routledge.

• Bulkeley, H. (2013) Cities and Climate Change. London: Routledge.
• Devine-Wright, P. (ed) (2011) Renewable Energy and the Public. From NIMBY to Participation. London: Earthscan.
• Everett, B. Boyle, G. and Ramage, J. (eds) (2012) Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power for a Sustainable Future (2^nd ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
• Golubchikov, O. (2012) Climate Neutral Cities: How to Make Cities less Energy and Carbon Intensive and More Resilient to Climatic Challenges. Geneva: United Nations.
• Hodson, M. and Marvin, S. (2013) Low Carbon Nation? London: Routledge.
• Szarka J., Cowell R., Ellis G., Strachan P.A. and Warren C. (eds.) (2012) Learning from Wind Power. Governance, Societal and Policy Perspectives on Sustainable Energy. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
• Journal titles such as Energy Policy
• Databases and publications of Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC); International Energy Agency