Navigation : EXPO21XX > WIND ENERGY 21XX > H05: Research and Development > Utrecht University
  • Offer Profile
  • The group was created in 1987 by the Board of Utrecht University and by the departments of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics and Astronomy, with the objective to strengthen and coordinate the education and research activities at Utrecht University in the field of Science, Technology and Society.

    The group is located within the department of Chemistry of the Science Faculty and is part of the Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation .
Product Portfolio
  • Energy Science

  • MASTER’S PROGRAMME UTRECHT UNIVERSITY

  • Energy is of great importance for society. The development of the global energy system is closely linked to the economic and technological development of society. There are enormous challenges ahead of us, like mitigating climate change, securing our long-term energy supply and providing access to clean and efficient energy to everyone. There is broad consensus that in the coming decades, we need to work on a transition to a sustainable energy system, of which energy efficiency and renewable energy are key components. Whoever, with a background in science or engineering, wants to contribute to this solution is welcome to enrol in the Master’s programme Energy Science.

    In the Master’s programme Energy Science we aim to educate scientists that are able to contribute to the transition towards sustainable energy systems, by doing applied research, consultancy work or providing strategy and policy advice. The programme will give you detailed insight into current and future technologies, such as gas turbines, solar cells, biomass conversion systems and wind turbines. But the scope of the Programme is much broader: you will also learn about energy economics and energy and climate policies. Furthermore you will be trained in energy systems analysis and energy modelling.

    This Master’s programme is interesting for different types of Bachelor’s students: there is a strong relation between Energy Science on the one hand and the natural sciences such as Chemistry and Physics on the other hand: e.g. in the field photovoltaic cells, thermodynamics, the production of bio-based chemicals, but also the meteorological origins of climate change. Likewise, Biology and engineering play an important role in this programme. For example, the use of biomass as a renewable energy source and energy conversion technologies are treated in the curriculum. In addition, energy science and earth science are linked in issues such as resource scarcity, geothermal energy and effects of climate change.

    Typical questions addressed in the Energy Science Master’s programme are: When does solar energy become a competitive alternative to fossil fuels? How can we use biomass as an energy source without compromising our food supply? How can we scale up the use of sustainable energy technologies in developing countries? What can carbon capture and storage contribute? How should the electricity grid and system be modified to include renewable energy technologies. Cutting edge research results are used in the teaching Programme which is a truly international environment in which you can prepare yourself for your future career.
    Career prospects

    So far, all the graduates of the programme Energy Science have found employment in their sector of choice. There is no reason to think that will change in the near future. Many existing and new companies are taking up the challenge to develop new business in this area and there is a growing demand for energy science specialists.

    Therefore graduates can seek employment in the private sector (e.g. Shell, Nuon, Essent, Eneco), or for consultancies like Ecofys, Kema and DHV. Graduates may also continue with research at the Utrecht University or institutes like the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and IIASA. Other opportunities are available in the public sector, e.g. as a policy maker or policy advisor for a local, national or international (e.g. EU) government and as a campaigner in environmental organisations like Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

    Connected research institutes

    This Master’s programme has been developed by the Copernicus Institute at Utrecht University. This institute is one of the worlds’ leading research groups on sustainability and energy issues. The research of the Copernicus Institute among others is focused on systems analysis in the areas Energy and Material Demand Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Supply.

    Another close related research institute is the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science. Topics related to both chemistry and energy science, such as solid sorbents for hydrogen storage, solid catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and catalysis for renewable energy, and chemicals from biomass are studied here. Fundamental and applied research is also being carried out in the field of thin film and next generation photovoltaic cells, manufactured by means of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition, hot wire chemical vapour deposition, and performance of these solar cells.
  • Research

  • Energy and Materials Demand and Efficiency

  • Increased efficiency in energy demand is generally recognized as the most cost-effective strategy to save energy and to reduce the related environmental impacts (e.g. greenhouse effect). In addition, the efficiency of materials use can be clearly increased by optimized design, re-use and recycling. Reduced material use results in lower resource requirements, energy inputs and the concomitant environmental impacts. Material substitution can serve as a complementary strategy for reducing the environmental burden (e.g., by increased use of bio-based materials).

    The Energy and Materials Demand and Efficiency (EME) cluster is studying these issues, thereby addressing current energy and material use and the related environmental impacts and also the future potentials for improving energy and material efficiency.

    Research objectives
    The main research objectives of the Energy and Materials Demand and Efficiency (EME) cluster are:
    1. to assess the current energy and material use and the related environmental impacts of products, processes, sectors and economies;
    2. to quantify the short-term and long-term potentials for improving energy and material efficiency;
    3. to study the mechanisms leading to the development of new technology and to analyze how this process can be accelerated;
    4. to determine the main obstacles to development and implementation (e.g., costs and organizational obstacles) and to study counter-acting societal trends(economic growth and consumer patterns);
    5. to analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and measures (e.g. benchmarking) and
    6. to derive recommendations for the actors concerned (policy, industry, and consumers).

    To this end, the research cluster applies and develops a variety of tools (e.g., models for energy analysis and life cycle assessment) and databases (e.g. the ICARUS database). Research deals with both energy intensive and energy extensive parts of the economy. In geographical terms, the EME cluster studies developments in the Netherlands, Europe and world-wide. The temporal scope covers historical, present-day and future developments.

  • Energy Supply and System Studies

  • In the field of Biomass and bio-energy: To better understand the technical, economic and implementation potential of biomass energy sources, geographically and in time, taking into account needs for urbanisation, food production and protection of biodiversity; to model and optimise biomass energy production and conversion systems; to investigate new and improved bio-energy technologies and systems, including multi-fuel and poly-generation concepts; to quantify the (potential) impact and performance of bio-energy technologies and systems, including bio-energy trade; to contribute to the development of certification systems for sustainable biomass energy production.

    In the field of Intermittent energy sources: To study ways, means and policies to enlarge the contribution of solar and wind energy systems to a sustainable energy supply; to contribute to the development of low cost, high efficiency solar cells, with a focus on the development of next generation PV cells; to model, monitor and improve the field performance of solar PV systems (grid connected, stand-alone and integrated in consumer products); to investigate and improve the environmental effects and energy payback time of solar PV cells and systems; to model and optimise the integration of solar PV and wind energy systems into the electricity grid.

    In the field of Sustainable use of fossil fuels: To assess possibilities and potentials for (advanced) CO2 capture technologies in centralized and decentralized electricity, hydrogen and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants and systems; to analyse the potential, risks and characteristics of CO2 storage in empty gas and oil fields, in deep saline aquifers and in coal bed layers; to identify optimal pathways for the development and deployment of CCS systems, including early opportunities for CCS and the integration of CCS in energy systems.

    In the field of Energy system studies: To (further) develop models, tools and databases to assess (future) energy systems and the uncertainties involved; to quantify and understand learning mechanisms in the development of energy supply and energy conversion technologies; to study non-technical barriers for the deployment of sustainable energy systems; to develop policies and strategies for introduction and deployment of sustainable energy systems; to derive handling perspectives for actors concerned (policy makers, industries, consumers).

    Key overall objectives for the Energy Supply research program are:
    • To develop new and improved methods and tools for comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the impacts (economic, environmental, social) of energy supply options and systems.
    • To identify, design and analyze the impacts of energy supply options and systems to provide high quality information and insights for relevant actors in society involved in managing, developing and implementing energy supply options and systems.
    • To support societal actors in transition activities towards the development of a sustainable energy system by providing tools, insights and analyses of strategies, policies and scenarios for doing so.
    • To educate students, researchers and society in general in above listed issues by high quality courses, M.Sc.-projects, Ph.D. research, publications and lecturing in the fields mentioned.
  • Energy and Global Change: Dealing with Risks and Uncertainties

  • Policy decisions on complex environmental risks related to energy and global change cannot wait until the scientific understanding is complete. The knowledge base available for decision making is unavoidably inconclusive, controversial and uncertain. This poses high demands on the ways uncertainties and dissent are dealt with in scientific assessment and how these are communicated to policy makers and society. We aim to develop new multidisciplinary, deliberative, reflexive tools and strategies for coping explicitly with scientific uncertainty and scientific controversy in science for policy, that meet these high demands.
    The cluster "Energy and Global Change: Dealing with Risks and Uncertainties" develops, tests, and applies approaches to assess and communicate uncertainty and tools for systematic reflection on the quality of scientific evidence for decision support.
  • Land Use and Biodiversity

  • Our research activities aim at the development and application of scientific knowledge on land use and biodiversity in support of policy and management. Contributions to problem solving are investigated in relation to natural resources management, biodiversity conservation and spatial planning. The perspectives of different actors and different value orientations play an important role. Among the key issues are the societal aspects of nature conservation, the analysis of patterns of biodiversity in relation to land use, and methodology development for valuation of nature and biodiversity, assessment of land use aspects of bioenergy and operationalization of the concept of multi-purpose land use.