TVM0028, Systems perspectives on biomass resources

Post-graduate course within the Bio4Energy Graduate School

Course name: TVM0028, Systems perspectives on biomass resources

ECTS/HP: 7.5 (contact your local examiner if you want to follow the course without doing the home assignment project)

Course code: TVM0028

Educational level: Third-cycle course

Target group

Graduate students and postdocs within Bio4Energy or from other research areas at the partner universities (Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences). The course is also open for graduate students admitted to other universities as well as to

Participants from institutes or industry who want to have an overview of the subject area.

Course content and learning outcomes

The course and lectures are centered around three themes:

• sustainability and the role of biomass in a sustainable society,
• taking a systems perspectives approach – identification of the areas to study, scope of the analysis, setting system boundaries, time frames, etc.,
• systems analysis tools and methods, including energy systems modelling, environmental systems analysis, process modelling and integration, and techno-economic evaluation.

The main aim of the course is to provide the student knowledge to be able to put her/his own research into a larger perspective. Specifically, after the course, the student will be able to:

• critically reflect on the rationale of sustainability,
• discuss resource and environmental challenges related to biorefineries and biomass resources,
• understand and suggest different types of environmental, technical and economic tools and methods for evaluation of biomass-based systems and processes.

Realization

Lectures, workshops, group meetings and own work, divided into two blocks:

1. Lectures and workshops, onsite in Luleå (approximately 30 hours of lectures)
2. Project work, with final seminar onsite in Luleå (approximately 170 hours of work)

In the project work, the students choose one (or several) evaluation tools or methods (such as, LCA, Pinch analysis, economic evaluation, etc.) to apply on their own research. Each project group is assigned a senior contact person for the project work. However, the students also supervise each other during regular meetings.

Examination

To receive course credits, a project work must be carried out and presented orally and in a written document in one of the following formats:

1. a draft research proposal, or
2. a draft journal or conference manuscript, or
3. a draft thesis chapter, or
4. conventional research report in a relevant topic

The work is preferably carried out in groups of two or three students. It is encouraged that the group compositions (and final report) are interdisciplinary.

Grading scale: Pass/Fail

Course literature

Scientific papers and reports, statistical reports, other relevant literature as needed.

Education cycle

Study period 2 2024 – study period 3 2025:

11-15 November 2024

11 March 2025

Course is given periodically: No

Course open for application by doctoral students admitted to other universities than LTU: Yes

Limited number of students: 20

Registration

Register through this link Länk till annan webbplats..

Deadline for application:

14 October, 2024

Tuition

The course is free for university or institute employed PhD students that are part of Bio4Energy, including accommodation during the week in Luleå.

For other participants, the fee is 3000 SEK for academic participants that are not involved in Bio4Energy and 10000 SEK for other external participants. The course fee includes meals, i.e., lunches, coffee/tea and two dinners (one pizza evening).

Participants need to arrange their own travel and accommodation.

Contact person

Prof. Elisabeth Wetterlund, Division of Energy Engineering, elisabeth.wetterlund@ltu.se

Examiner

Prof. Elisabeth Wetterlund, Division of Energy Engineering

Course syllabus decided by

Prof. Lars-Göran Westerberg, Director for PhD studies, TVM