Economy of energy system

Academic unit or major

Graduate major in Energy Science and Engineering

Instructor(s)

Koji Tokimatsu / Shinya Hanaoka / Shigeo Nishikizawa / Yuya Kajikawa / Mika Goto / Yoji Uchiyama

Class Format

Lecture (Zoom)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

3-4 Tue (Zoom)

Class

-

Course Code

ENR.A408

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2020

Offered quarter

4Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

The outline of the classes are as follows. It is required to assess utilization of energy technology in various socio-economic perspectives. In this course, lectures compactly provide essence of related academic fields with some examples, especially energy technology assessment. Such contents can be used as basic knowledge after graduation or carrier build to blush up specialty of students. The contents include economics (cost of electricity, cash flow analysis and cost benefit analysis), systems (lifecycle assessment, econometrics, systems engineering), and social (research and development, deployment, consensus building). The lecture is given paid attentions to the related fields and cross cutting tools.
The aim of this course is for students from various origins and carriers after their graduations to understand various concepts related to the academic fields without any basic knowledge, and to give various knowledge and toolboxes to carry out their business after their graduation with memorize. This course SOLELY provides basics of socio-economic issues in energy. It is recommended to take this course for many students because it is consisted to be useful for business situations after graduation. The lineup of the course is listed as below to help students for course selection.
1 energy supply cost (assoc. prof. Koji TOKIMATSU)
The economics of technology is provided; power plants are examples for the cost of electricity (cost to produce unit power in 1 kWh). Students understand basic concepts such as the discount rate and discounted present value.
2. cost benefit analysis (prof. Shinya HANAOKA)
Cost benefit analysis and Cash flow analysis in energy project, oil and gas field development as an example, are explained. The basic concepts such as internal rate of return, are understood.
3. lifecycle assessment (LCA) (prof. emeritus of Tsukuba univ. Yohji Uchiyama)
Basic tools for LCA, bottom up and input-output (I/O), are explained by using technology such as nuclear. Some basic but important concepts such as allocation or I/O are understood.
4. energy econometric analysis (prof. Mika GOTO)
Basics of energy econometric analysis are explained, such as differences of views from between science-technology and socio-economics, energy conversion table, primary and secondary energy, gross and net calorific values, and energy balance tables. They are introduction to understand energy flow in socio-economics.
5. energy systems analysis (assoc. prof. Koji TOKIMATSU)
Simple outline of systems analysis, which uses engineering economics (class 1) and energy economic analysis (class 4) is explained by using some examples. The imprecation of scenario analysis of economic efficiency is understood.
6. energy technology research & development, diffusion and deployment (RDDD) (prof. Yuya KAJIKAWA)
It is required for strategic planning for socially research, development and deployment in energy technology and resources. Energy research and development, innovation, and management
7. consensus building of energy technology deployment (assoc. prof. Shigeo NISHIKISAWA)
In order to implement energy technology in real society, consensus building for decision making is required among various stakeholders. The consensus building is understood via actual example of wind power to deploy renewable energy technologies.

Course description and aims

Following abilities are acquired through this course.
1) Understand and explain various concepts treated in energy systems and socio-economics.
2) Targets setings for various problems in energy, to which you can apply the explained concepts and tools in the class

Keywords

energy systems, engineering economics, lifecycle assessment, econometrics, research and development, consensus building

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

In the beginning of some 10 minutes of each class, it is provided that correct answers of home works from the previous class, replies to inquiries and questions raised from students in submission of home works, then to proceed the day’s class.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

unspecified

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are distributed。Related reference books are introduced in each class

Evaluation methods and criteria

every homework (10 point/times X 7 times) plus 30 point for a final report

Related courses

• GEG.E421 ： Energy&Environment-1
• GEG.S402 ： The economics and systems analysis of environment, resources and technology
• ENR.B436 ： Special lecture of economics and politics in energy

Prerequisites

nothing

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

tokimatsu.k.ac[at]m.titech.ac.jp、+81-45-924-5533 (transferred to business celler phone, anytime available to catch)

Office hours

unspecified. Please contact to meet anywhere at Ookayama, Suzukakedai, and Tamachi