• Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy either through photovoltaic panels or through mirrors that concentrate solar radiation.

Production of solar panels

• The cost of manufacturing solar panels has plummeted dramatically in the last decade, making them not only affordable but often the cheapest form of electricity. Solar panels have a lifespan of roughly 30 years, and come in variety of shades depending on the type of material used in manufacturing.

What is Denmark's attitude towards this energy source?

• WE LOVE IT. We even have solar parks throughout the country

What does UCL do to become more sustainable?

Garbage sorting

Selling leftover food for a cheaper price (to reduce foodwaste)

Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to energy and water management?

Yes there

What are the goals for coming years?

Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to ventilation?

Modern wind turbines can be categorized by where they are installed and how they are connected to the grid:

Land-based wind; Land-based wind turbines range from 100 kilowatts to several megawatts. The more cost-effective larger turbines are assembled into wind plants, collectively contributing bulk power to the electrical grid.

Offshore wind; Offshore wind turbines are typically massive, almost the same height as the Statue of Liberty.

Unlike land-based installations, they overcome transportation challenges by utilizing ships for moving large components instead of roads. Harnessing the winds over the ocean, these turbines can generate substantial amounts of energy.

Distributed wind; When wind turbines, regardless of their size, are placed on the consumer’s side of the electrical meter or are installed in close proximity to where the generated energy will be utilized, they are referred to as “distributed wind”. Small wind turbines, typically below 100 kilowatts, are commonly used in distributed settings for residential, agricultural, and small commercial applications.

Pros:

• Wind is a renewable, naturally occurring source of energy

• Wind turbines produce electricity without emissions of propellant gases into the atmosphere and are therefore more climate-friendly.

• It is energetically efficient

Cons:

• Germany: Some parties are against building wind turbines because they destroy the landscape and disturb people (mainly said by politicians in Bavaria)

• It can be noisy.

• It only works when the wind is blowing. The challenge with wind energy is that the wind doesn't blow consistently all the time, and storing wind energy is difficult and expensive.

Production/acquisition of the source in Denmark:

What is the situation with the waste generated in connection to the energy source?

What is the environmental impact of the energy source

• In 2018 wind turbines reduced 74,6 million tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gasses. In total renewable nergies reduced 182,1 million tons of CO2 emissions and 183,7 million tons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gasses in Germany.

• Wind turbines are energetically efficient as they produce the energy the building process takes within 3-6 months. Wind turbines run for at least 20 years which makes them energetically efficient. After those 20 years, the wind turbines can keep running and produce more energy, or their pieces can be recycled. Also: on average, a wind turbine kills approximately 1-4 birds per year. So in total 10.000-100.000 birds get killed by wind turbines each year. Compared to other human-made factors (e.g. traffic: 70 million birds killed) and predators (e.g. 20-100 million birds killed by cats), this is a rather mild danger.
  
  What is Denmark’s attitude towards this energy source?

• Two out of three Danes want more onshore wind turbines, and 38 percent of Danes have become more positive towards onshore wind turbines in their own municipality after the high energy prices. Support is stable across regions.
  
  Clean energy is a Danish passion. Today, 50 percent of electricity in Denmark is supplied by wind and solar power.

https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work

https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/FAQ/Windenergie/faq-windenergie.html

https://denmark.dk/innovation-and-design/clean-energy 

​​https://www.danskerhverv.dk/politik-og-analyser/analyser/2023/september/to-ud-af-tre-danskere-onsker-flere-vindmoller-pa-land-i-danmark/ 

Group work 2: Is UCL sustainable?  

What does UCL do to become more sustainable? 

• We know that the school canteen is somewhat sustainable.They save some leftover food for the next day.

• We sort garbage at school.

• The canteen also uses normal cutlery, cups, and plates to minimize plastic waste.

• The teachers raise awareness about sustainability.

• UCL provides shelters for bikes -> encourages people to go by bike instead of cars.

• 
  

Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to energy and water management ? 

What are the goals for the coming years ? 

Are there at UCL sustainability initiatives related to ventilation ?

Traditional hydropower is produced by using the energy that is generated by falling or flowing water, such as rivers and streams. Hydropower is one of the most widespread types of renewable energy worldwide, although in Denmark hydropower only has a subordinate role.

Production in DK:

In 2015 hydropower contributed with 0.1 percent of the total Danish electricity production. In Denmark we don’t create hydro power as much as they do in Norway and Sweden, we therefore use the power that they make 

Pros:

Many hydropower dams are used for multiple purposes beyond electricity generation, providing infrastructure to supply clean water for homes, industry and agriculture, as well as recreation and transportation services.

Hydropower projects can be used to regulate and store water to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events such as floods and drought, which are on the rise due to climate change.

Hydropower is among the cleanest sources of electricity, with a low greenhouse gas emission intensity compared to other energy forms.

Hydropower provides very low cost electricity over its long lifetime, despite relatively high upfront construction costs.

Hydropower projects can directly support the achievement of SDGs 6, 7, 9 and 13:

Goal 6: Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water for all

Goal 7: Providing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 9: Upgrading infrastructure with clean, environmentally sound technologies

Goal 13: Taking action to combat climate change and its impacts

• https://ens.dk/en/our-responsibilities/geothermal-energy/facts-about-geothermal-energy

• https://eng.geus.dk/about/news/news-archive/2020/nov/geotherm
  

• Students write what are the pluses and minuses of their energy source:

  
  

Pros: 

• The website first gives facts about what “geothermal energy” is globally.

• Next, the focus is on “the geothermal energy” in Denmark.

• The website describes what geothermal energy is used for.

• Also the difference between geothermal energy and geothermal heat.

• You can also Apply for a Geothermal License in Denmark.
  

Cons:

• The temperature in the Danish subsoil is too low to use the geothermal energy to produce electricity.

• Requires a license to make a geothermal plant.

• you focus on the production/acquisition of the source in Denmark

• We have 3 geothermal plants in operation in Denmark. The geothermal plants are placed in Thisted, Sønderborg and Amarger (Copenhagen).

• The layers containing hot water which you can use for heat purposes are approximately at a depth of 700 meters, but the geothermal wells are usually at a depth of 1000 meters.

• What is the environmental impact of the energy source?

• Natural impact, the earth is self-sustainable.

• Some use the energy for heat or electricity.

• What is Denmark's attitude towards this energy source?

• Danmark is well aware of the use of geothermal energy and we already have geothermal plants in Denmark. The problem is that we can’t use a lot of it because the temperature is too low. This means that if we start drilling without knowing that we can actually use the geothermal energy beneath, then there is no point of drilling. We are therefore a bit critical about unnecessary drilling.

Denmark uses far more wood than it produces each year - about 4.3 million cubic meter are filled, but despite this the amount of timber in danish forests is growing by an annual net of 2.4 million cubic meter

The situation with the waste generated in connection with biomass

During the pyrolysis process biomass generates carbondioxide and greenhousegasses. Sometimes even more gasses than pyrolysis of coal.

What is the environmental impact of Wood as an energy source?

Deforestation, pollution and water use.

What is denmarks attitude towards biomass (wood) as an energy source?

Wood makes up about a third of the collected renewable energy, its about double as much as windmills (side eye)

In Denmark H.C ørsted is currently producing it but in low quantities, rather they are researching building motors that can use the hydrogen for transport ships.

• what is the situation with the waste generated in connection with the energy source?

The waste in hydrogen is Oxygen, which can be used for medical purposes. But it depends on which energy source is used to fuel the process, is it green energy its good, if its black energy we have the same waste.

• what is the environmental impact of the energy source?

The usage is environmentally free, but it depends on which electricity is being used. But if it works we could potentially change the whole shipment industry to be CO2 neutral.

• what is Denmark's attitude towards this energy source?

Denmarks attitude towards hydrogen energy is very positive. Denmark's goal is to have halved their co2 emmision and to be neutral by 2050. The Danish parliament are aware of the progress made with hydrogen energy and expect it to pay an important role in Denmark's Co2 neutrality.

UCL Sustainability initiatives:

Cafeteria:

• The cafeteria does not provide plastic lids for their coffee.

• You have to pay for a bag if you want your food from the cafeteria instead of getting one for free

• The cafeteria do not use beef in their meals

Other initiatives:

• Unused clothes can placed on racks for other people to use

• Oil is biomass that has been trapped underground for millions of years, and in that process the preasure, and heat changes the biomass into oil.

Pros: it is easy to extract and transport.

cheap

oil and gasoline are very reliable and consistent

5% of the yearly oil consumers are used to produced to make plastic

Cons: it's very polluting for every kilo of oil you burn there will be 3,1 kilo CO2 in the ozone layer

• approximately 18 people die prematurely due to oil, be that air polution or work related injuries.

Bad on health. Oil can be life-threatening to humans and animal life (oil spills)

• oil is also a finite resource since it takes so long to naturaly ocure

Acquisition in Denmark:

• Denmark drills in the north sea, and in 2021 they extracted 3.8 million cubic meters of oil, it is decreasing yearly, in 2004 around 23 million cubic meters was extracted, wich was the peak. we are a self sufficient nation, and as of august 2023 we use 147.000 barrels a day, wich is 23.373.000 liters daily.

Enviromental impact:

disrupting ecosystems which impacts breeding and reproduction. An example could be birds who are affected by oil which could end up laying eggs with thinner shells which are then more prone to breaking.

Denmarks attitude:

• The danish government seeks to stop all oil extraction by 2050

  
  

UCL sustainability:

Good:

• Sorting trash.

• The cantine is using leftovers.

  
  

  Bad:

• lights turned on in daylight

• Active floor

  
  

  
  

1. What is coal?

   
   

   Coal is a black or brownish rock. We burn coal to create energy. Coal is ranked depending on how much “carbonization” it has gone through. Carbonization is the process that ancient organisms undergo to become coal. About three meters (10 feet) of solid vegetation crushed together form 0.3 meter (one foot) of coal!

   
   

2. You focus on the production/acquisition of the source in Denmark

Denmark has to imports coal from different countries because we dont have our own.

1. What is the situation with the waste generated in connection with the energy source?

   
   

   Coal is a reliable source of energy. We can rely on it day and night, summer and winter, sunshine or rain, to provide fuel and electricity.

   
   

   Using coal is also harmful. Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Coal miners are exposed to toxic dust and face the dangers of cave-ins and explosions at work.

   
   

   When coal is burned, it releases many toxic gases and pollutants into the atmosphere. Mining for coal can also cause the ground to cave in and create underground fires that burn for decades at a time.

   
   

2. What is the enviromental impact of the energy source?

   
   

   Burning fossil fuels is harmful to the environment. When coal and oil are burned, they release particles that can pollute the air, water, and land. Some of these particles are caught and set aside, but many of them are released into the air.

   Burning fossil fuels also upsets Earth’s “carbon budget,” which balances the carbon in the ocean, earth, and air. When fossil fuels are combusted (heated), they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a gas that keeps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, a process called the “greenhouse effect.” The greenhouse effect is necessary to life on Earth, but relies on a balanced carbon budget.

   
   

3. What is Denmarks's attitude towards this energy source?

The coal energy is only around 5% of Denmarks industry energy source in 2018. The danish coal energy usage peaked in 1977 but has been falling since because Denmarks wants to use more sustainable and renewable energy.

Denmark imports coal from different countries like Poland and South Africa.

Danmarks forbrug af kul til strøm er i dag på 17 % af det samlede forbrug.

Group work 2: UCL sustainability

1. What does UCL do to become more sustainable?

• Sort trash

• Solar panels

• Reduce food waste by selling leftovers

• Green transport

• Education on sustainability

2. Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to energy and water management?

• Solar panels

• Removal of cold water fountains

3. What are the goals for coming years?

• As far as we could find out there are no written goals for UCL

4. Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to ventilation?

• No

• Natural gas is created naturally over the course of hundreds of millions of years. It is formed when layers of decomposing plants and animals are subject to intense heat from the Earth and pressure from rocks.

  
  

Positives of natural gas:

• Natural gas is relatively inexpensive to extract and is a "cleaner" fossil fuel than oil or coal.

• When natural gas is burned it only releases carbon dioxide and water vapor (which are the exact same gasses that we breathe out when we exhale).

  
  

Negatives of natural gas:

• Extracting natural gas can cause environmental problems.

• One of the methods of extracting natural gas is through hydraulic "fracking", this method can cause mini-earthquakes.

• The high-pressure water and chemicals that are forced underground can also leak to other sources of water- which can in turn contaminate sources which are used for drinking or bathing.

• In recent history natural gas has used as an economocal tool of war (think of Nord Stream 1-2).

  
  

Acquisition of natural gas in Denmark:

• In 2020, Denmark's consumption of natural gas was in the volume of 87 petajoule, which totals 13% of the total energi consumption in Denmark.

• In 2020 41% of EU's combined import of natural gas came frome Russia. It has not been possible to find out how much Denmark imports from Russia.

  
  

Environmental impact:

• Drilling and extraction: Drilling an extraction well can affect wildlife and landuse leading to a disruption of local ecosystems, breaking migration patterns, pollution of rivers, dirt erosion etc.

• Transportation: Transporting gas from the wells to power plants is also a polluting process. Laying pipelines can cause habitat fragmentation. Gas leaks from pipes can cause trouble with the ground water.

• Burning and consumption: Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel because it burns cleaner than fx coal. In power plants, natural gas emits 50-60% less CO2 than regular oil or coal.

• Natural gas is reliable: storing and transporting it is effective, thus the use of the energy is guaranteed. Non-renewables' largest issue is storage. (think battery capacity for storage of wind energy).

• The total energy consumption level decreased by 5,4% in the first quarter of 2023 in comparison to the same period the year before.

• Especially natural gas fell with 13,9%, while consumption of coal was 11,8% less than the same period in 2022. Oil consumption fell by 3,9% and renewable energy with 5,7%.

Denmark's attitude towards the resource:

Denmark has been actively working towards a transition to renewable energy sources and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. There are many alternatives to natural gas in Denmark. Denmark has been a leader in wind energy and has made significant investments in offshore wind farms.

Sources: https://via.ritzau.dk/pressemeddelelse/13682547/energiforbruget-faldt-i-forste-kvartal-af-2023?publisherId=13560344&lang=da

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/non-renewable-energy/

Additional Information

• 2 forms of nuclear energy

  • Fission and fusion

• Fission happens when energy is released when heavy atomic nuclei are split. This is the energy we get from nuclear plants today.

• Fusion is when energy is released when light atomic nuclei are melted together. This is not yet a possible way of using nuclear energy. 

Pros

• Clean energy (free from CO2)

• Could be good for the economy

• Does not take up a lot of space

• Very efficient

Cons

• The Danish people are against the use of nuclear power. Therefore it would be undemocratic to use it.

• We don’t have enough knowledge on nuclear power.

• The startup is expensive, because there are strict requirements regarding safety and security, both in regards to previous accidents, but also terrorism. 

• Nuclear waste, radioactive waste is active for thousands of years

• Accidents have enormous impacts on the surrounding area (Chernobyl, Fukushima)

Production/acquisition in Denmark

• No production in Denmark

• No acquisition in “Denmark”, but Greenland has a source.

Waste generated

• Nuclear waste

• Dangerous for living organisms

• Radioactive for thousands of years and has to be stored safely so it doesn’t leak and contaminate the surrounding area.

Environmental Impact

• Doesn’t produce CO2, it is CO2 neutral.

• Transport of Uranium

• It does not contribute to global warming

Denmark’s Attitude

• We don’t like it :D 

• Generally against, since Denmark is heavily pro renewable energy like sun and wind.

• Has been discussed since it is a CO2 clean way of producing energy and also very efficient. 

Nuclear Plants in Czech Republic

• In Czech Republic there are 2 nuclear plants - Dukovany (put into work in 1985-1988) and Temelín (2000)

• People hold different opinions to that matter - right now it is difficult to satisfy the demand for energy with different source

• For a long period of time we were mining uranium - it was also used as a punishment for political prisoners (mines in Jáchymov)

• The last mine in Rožná was closed in 2016 - right now it is only a side product of cleaning water near the closed mines

• Main source of energy are Coal-fired power plants

Sources:

https://www.dr.dk/det-bedste-fra-dr/atomkraft-ja-tak-eller-hvad-her-er-3-fordele-og-ulemper-ved-den-kontroversielle

https://faktalink.dk/atomkraft?check_logged_in=1 

https://www.cez.cz/cs/o-cez/vyrobni-zdroje/jaderna-energetika/jaderna-energetika-v-ceske-republice

• Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to energy and water management ? 

  
  

  The Ucl students have made a list with multiple relevant change that could be made.

  
  

• What are the goals for coming years ? 

  
  

  Something about lowering the degrees in classrooms and make more "special classrooms" also to work on the electrical and heating circuits.

  
  

• Are there at UCL sustainability initiatives related to ventilation ? 

  
  

  Ventilation stops at night, and weekends.

  There is focus on controlling the power of the ventilation

What does UCL do to become more sustainable?

• Securing professional workers for the work environment

• Strengthening sustainability and green change

• Creates a learning- and studying environment that involves, supports and challenges all students

• Contributes with knowledge and digital competences

• Develop a campus environment that feels alive and visible

• Attempts at reducing the release of CO2 in daily operations

  • Reusing resources, garbage sorting, solar cells on roofs. 

  • Research in regards to a green change

  • Working together with companies and institutions to create green solutions to issues.

Food waste management

• We were given a chance to see how the campus canteen works - all the food is cooked right here and based on the information from the system which tells the cooks how much students should be in school they are trying to cook accordingly to that, limiting the food waste

• Their mission is to come up with take-away boxes with less plastic

Are there at UCL, sustainability initiatives related to energy and water management?

• There's nothing specific related to water management. 

  • What they are trying to do is to teach us about sustainability, so that we know how to tackle that as education for future students.

• Regarding energy management UCL is focused on making sure that garbage sorting is properly done. This is because a lot of waste is converted into green energy.
  

What are the goals for the coming years?

• There are no concrete goals for any specific years. There are however a few green ‘initiatives’, or rather ideas about what we would like to do to be more sustainable, such as the indicators found in the ‘strategic ambition and objectives’ folder.

Are there at UCL sustainability initiatives related to ventilation?

• Not that we can find

Is it possible for UCL to become an eco-school? How? What actions do you suggest?

• To become an Eco-school the UCL has to accomplished 7 steps journey

1. Form an student-led Eco Committee

2. Carry out a Sustainability Audit

3. Make an action plan

4. Monitor and Evaluate

5. Work with the Curriculum

6. Inform and Involve others

7. Produce an Eco Code

• it is possible for UCL to become one
  

https://www.ecoschools.global/seven-steps-methodology

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