Syllabus

ÖT0011 Biogas in the sustainable society, 7.5 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

The course is for you who are interested in green energy, sustainability and resource efficiency, and want to be a part in finding solutions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The goal of the course is to provide a basic understanding of biogas production and its beneficial effects contributing to sustainable development. After the course, the student should have developed his or her ability to write and orally communicate social benefits of biogas and challenges involved in its production, and thus be able to act as a link between specialists and the general public.

The student should after the course be able to:

• communicate how biogas contributes to mitigate climate change for people who are not familiar with the area

• explain how biogas is used for energy production and how it contributes to a circular economy

• from an environmental and resource perspective assess and compare biogas with other biofuels and with fossil energy types

• give examples of biomass used for biogas production and give an overall account of process technology and microbiology

• have insight into how biogas can contribute to viable rural communities, increase the connection between city and country, and what possibilities exist for using the solid residue from the production as biofertilizer

• understand the possibilities to produce other green products by adjusting the biological process

• discuss the future role of biogas; possibilities to increase feedstock material; as well as alternative uses of biogas

• describe the international importance of biogas and discuss the potential and uses of biogas in developing countries

Content

Preparatory assignments and lectures will give overview of circular economics, biomass, technology, chemistry and microbiology linked to biogas production. The course covers the entire production chain from biomass feedstock to end-of-use of the renewable energy and will provide in-depth knowledge of how biogas contributes to reach environmental goals and sustainability in energy in the agriculture, industrial and transport sectors. The students will meet actors working in a variety of areas linked to biogas, which provides opportunities to discuss potential and real challenges from different perspectives. Students are trained in reading, reviewing and summarizing literature, which is presented orally, written or in videos with opposition. Contact with a person working in a relevant field will be available to give input during the independent work. Study visit to a biogas plant is included.

Compulsory elements include literature seminars, exercises, study visits and oral presentation.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

Passed written final exam, participation in compulsory course components and hand in of written assignments. Approved oral and written presentations of independent project.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible department

Department of Molecular Sciences