Energy Policy and the Environment

Order Description
MODULE TITLE: ENERGY POLICY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Assignment Guide

INTRODUCTION
The assessment for this module will be by portfolio submission.
The portfolio of work must adhere to the stipulated structure (see below), fully address the 4 questions outlined in Sections A-D (see below), and be well researched. The questions in Sections A-D have been carefully selected to provide an integrative overview of the module and are based on the materials, video presentations and reading covered in Topics 1-7.
You will be awarded an overall grade for your portfolio – please note that individual components are not individually weighted.

PORTFOLIO STRUCTURE
The portfolio must adhere to the following structure:

1. Cover Page – this should include your name, course, module title.

2. Contents Page – a comprehensive contents list with page numbers.

3. List of Tables – insert a list of any tables included in the portfolio.

4. List of Figures – insert a list of any figures included in the portfolio.

5. Section A – this section should address Question 1 and should be no more than 1,000 words in length.

Question 1
Critically outline and discuss the key energy challenges and issues facing one country of your choice. In answering this question, you might wish to consider challenges and issues such as security of supply and energy options, environmental responsibility and the carbon challenge. In Africa and other developing nations energy challenges can also be closely linked with development. Reading that you will find of interest can be found in Topics 1-3, and materials covered in Activities SR 1, SR 2 and DG 2. (25 marks)

6. Section B – this section should address Question 2 and should be no more than 1,000 words in length.
Question 2
What are the principles of sustainable development in the global energy context and how these may affect energy provision? How have energy companies integrated sustainable development in to their business strategies? Please discuss/evaluate two sustainability initiatives implemented by energy companies. Examples of such initiatives that you might wish to consider include Emissions Trading, Carbon Capture and Storage, ISO 14001, Codes of Practice, Industrial Symbiosis. Reading that you will find of interest can be found in Topics 2-6, and materials covered in Activities SR 3 and DG 1. (25 marks)

7. Section C – this section should address Question 3 and should be no more than 1,200 words in length.
Question 3
‘Nuclear Power, Shale Gas and Renewables in the UK: Can We Have All?’ In answering the question – can we have all? – you might wish to consider issues such as economics/finance, public acceptance, the planning environment, infrastructure, security of supply, terrorism. Reading that you will find of interest can be found in Topics 1 and 7, and Activities covered in SR 2 & SR8. (30 marks)

8. Section D – this section should address Question 4 and should be no more than 800 words in length.

Question 4
“The energy problem, that is, the provision of a sustainable and non-polluting energy supply to meet all of our domestic, commercial, and industrial needs, is a complex and long-term challenge for society” (Evans, 2007).
Assume that you have just become a policy advisor to the Minister for Energy in the country you selected to answer Question 1. She/he has asked to you to outline 2 strategic policy recommendations to aid the transition to a low carbon economy. What would your two recommendations be and why? (20 marks)

9. Full Bibliography – insert a full list of references and other sources, books, book chapters, journal articles, professional articles, and web sources that you have consulted. I would expect the bibliography to have a minimum of 25 items.

You must ensure that you fully address the questions in Sections A-D, and your answers must be well researched. Cite references throughout your text using the Harvard format.