The energy sector is undergoing deep changes. These days, maybe more than ever, young professionals who are studying, working or are just interested in the energy field for its interconnections with the economy, society or environment, need a broader understanding of the sector’s modus operandi. To this purpose, global energy trends and policy-making processes have to be addressed in their mutually influencing dynamics and assessed jointly with the energy sector’s greatest externality: climate emergency.
The summer school Smart Transformation in the Energy Sector is one of Energy Policy Group’s flagship learning programs designed for students and young professionals at the start of their career in order to offer them in-depth knowledge about the energy sector’s fundamentals, a better understanding of the global energy trends, as well as the opportunities and challenges that come along. The program has already reached the fourth edition and has quickly proven to be an international success with applications received from all over the world.
Specifically, the Summer School is a 9-day learning program that consists not only of lectures and seminars led by reputed international speakers, but also interactive activities and field trips to a variety of energy assets and facilities. It consequently aims to enhance theoretical knowledge by practical, hands-on experience.
Significant attention will be given to decarbonization initiatives with renewables at the centre of the transition to a less carbon-intensive and sustainable energy system. A thorough discussion of the oil and gas sector, with its challenges and prospects, as well as of alternative fuels (e-mobility, biofuels, natural gas and hydrogen) will be considered in order to initiate a dialogue about the future of transportation. Special consideration will be given to digitalization and smart technologies as well as to understanding the potential of energy efficiency to enable a secure and sustainable energy system while delivering environmental and social benefits.
This year’s edition touches upon how investments and financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development can be fostered through the economic recovery packages. These decisions will shape economic and energy infrastructure for decades to come and will almost certainly determine whether the world has a chance of meeting its long-term energy and climate goals.
However, the Summer school does not only represent a learning process, but also serves as a great opportunity to debate, interact, and build a sense of community that can afterwards facilitate a cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaboration in order to deploy the energy transition goals.