Energy Supply and Value Chains

This subject is not offered in 2012.

240 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will examine both the supply and value chains of the major forms of energy used globally.

This will first examine the generation, distribution and consumption of electricity, in particular -
• the levelised cost of electricity production from coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewable sources;
• learning curves of different electricity generation technologies, particularly comparing renewable and non-renewable sources;
• the costs of electricity transmission;
• the matching of supply with demand, including the various forms of electricity markets currently in use (including Australia’s National Electricity Market);
• wholesale and retail pricing of electricity.

Oil and natural gas will then be examined, in particular looking at the following -
• the costs of oil and gas exploration and drilling, considering both conventional and non-conventional forms;
• the costs of processing and transporting oil, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG);
• learning curves of different oil and gas technologies, particularly comparing conventional and non-conventional sources;
• the function of the various markets for oil, gas and LPG, and its effect on fuel pricing.

Finally, the subject will examine different ways to price greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade, and their impact on the costs of different forms of energy.

On completion of this subject students should be able to do the following -
• Analyse the major forms of energy currently in use from an integrated, techno-economic perspective and along their entire supply chains
• Identify the major factors at play in different energy markets, and their effect on the wholesale and retail price of different forms of energy

• Two assignments (30% each) not exceeding 25 pages each, one due mid-semester and the other at the end of semester
• One written three-hour end-of-semester examination (40%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Ability to communicate effectively with the community at large
• Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of a professional, and the need for sustainable development