| Contents |
The course offers a comprehensive and detailed overview of the main aspects of energy, with particular reference to renewable energy sources, the efficiency of energy systems, and energy storage. It begins by analyzing the global, European, and national scenarios, examining current trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the global energy transition. The main renewable energy sources are examined, along with their role in the energy mix. This includes also natural gas and the decarbonization possibilities associated with its use. The course analyzes production infrastructures (particularly unconventional reservoirs) and transportation systems. The scenario of renewable energy penetration is described, along with the needs related to the presence of storage systems, illustrating the characteristics of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy, and discussing technological innovations in these areas. Finally, energy storage technologies are analyzed, highlighting the role these technologies will play in the future of the energy sector to ensure stability and efficiency. The physical principles, components, and plant solutions of mechanical, electrochemical, chemical, and thermal storage systems will be studied. |
| Educational objectives |
This course represents the first module of Energy systems and explores the basic elements of the energy field, of renewable energy sources and energy storage. The main aim of the course is to provide students with the knowledge needed to address the study of different unconventional and renewable energy sources, the energy conversion processes and energy storage systems. The acquired knowledge will be: global energy scenarios Unconventional fossil energy sources (natural gas from unconventional reservoirs) Renewable sources, in particular wind, solar photovoltaic and geothermal Energy storage systems (mechanical, chemical, electrochemical and thermal) |
| Extended program |
Introduction to the course. Preliminary concepts, global, European, and national energy scenarios. Natural gas: global scenario, unconventional reservoirs, natural gas hydrates. Extraction and treatment of raw gas. Methods of natural gas transportation: compressed, liquefied, and via gas hydrates. LNG supply chain. Photovoltaics: photovoltaic effect, PV cells, cell characteristics, I-V curves, modules and systems, plant design and case study, and concentrated photovoltaics. Wind power: Betz's theory, wind energy, technology, and case study. Geothermal systems: low, medium, high enthalpy. Vapour- dominant systems, water-dominant systems, binary systems. geothermal heat pumps. Innovative geothermal plants. Energy storage: definitions, classification, coupling with renewables, services on the electricity grid. Pumped hydro storage, CAES, LAES, flywheels: construction principles, systems, characteristics - LCOS definition. Chemical storage. Hydrogen, synthetic fuels. Thermochemical conversion processes. Hydrogen production: steam reforming, electrolysis. Storage and use of hydrogen. Power-to-gas, methanation, ammonia, methanol. Elements of electrochemistry. Performance of a cell. Type of batteries (lead, nickel, lithium, flow batteries, zebra, etc.) Heat storage. Principles: sensitive, latent, thermochemical. Sensible heat storage systems: TES aquifer, water, gravel, cavern, packed bed." Storage of latent heat. PCM: hydrated salts, paraffins, fatty acids, hydrated clathrates. Cold storage. PCM in buildings and thermal systems. |
