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 and controversies that arise from energy innovations, policies and practices. Various aspects are unpacked in this relation: energy trilemma, energy governance, fossil fuel and renewable systems, energy security, energy and climate change, energy justice and inequalities, low-carbon cities, community and renewable energy.

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

2. Develop a critical understanding of the geographies of energy transitions;

3. Understand innovations, policies, politics, interests, and contradictions involved in low-carbon 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 new 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.

Group presentation

25%

Max 20 minutes

Essay

75%

3000 words

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 and energy trilemma;

• Energy security and geopolitics;

• Energy justice and inequality;

• Politics of carbon, low-carbon energies;

• Communities and renewable energy;

• Low carbon cities;

• 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.

• 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; Energy Research & Social Science.

• Databases and publications of Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC); International Energy Agency (IEA)