Challenges for future energy concepts – Chemical energy conversion

This Semester, the module "Challenges for future energy concepts – Chemical energy conversion"
will be offered again by Prof. A. Auer from the chair of computatinal quantum chemistry
TU Chemnitz and the MPI für Kohlenforschung. The module "Challenges for future energy concepts – Chemical energy conversion" will be a two-part course.

If you have questions, please send me an email (alexander.auer@chemie.tu-chemnitz.de) or post a comment in the OPAL forum of this course.

In the first part, we will discuss the necessity of chemical energy conversion and energy systems in future energy concepts for a society, in which our energy needs are satisfied by renewable sources to a large extent. Due to the current situation, this will be done digitally and I will inform all participants on the details shortly before the beginning of the course.

The fundamental literature for the seminar that every participant should have read is the following book:
"Sustainable Energy - without the hot air" by D.J.C. MacKay, which is available for free (!) online :
http://www.inference.eng.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/sewtha.pdf.
We will discuss the need for renewable solutions and I will also outline the challenges that come with a change in our energy economy and energy conversion systems that might be essential for sustainable solutions. The focus will be on a deeper understanding of physical/chemical processes and the required materials.

At the end of the first block of lectures you will be given a subject, that you will have to prepare a seminar talk (20 minutes) on. At the end of the semester, we will have a mini-symposium in which every student will present his/her talk on the give subject. Successfull presentation is the requirement for taking the final oral exam.

The final oral exam (also 20 minutes) will focus on your seminar talk, the introductory lectures and the book by MacKay.
The final grade for the module will be the grade of the final examination, for which I will offer several timeslots at the end of the semester, during the exam period and at the beginning of the next semester. As I am only sporadically in Chemnitz, please note that dates and slots for examination cannot easily be planned on short notice.