Energy
UndergraduateTAS-XBR1172023
Course information for 2023 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Energy
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Recognise the technological, social, environmental, economic and political factors affecting energy use and energy policy.
- Calculate direct and embodied energy consumption using information from a range of sources.
- Explain the complex issues related to the ongoing energy debate and illustrate your findings in reports and presentations.
- Why Energy?
- What is Energy? – some basic physics about energy
- Human Energy Usage – an historical overview
- The Carbon Cycle and Coal Formation – biochemical and geochemical carbon cycles
- Coal properties, mining and utilisation
- Global and Australian Coal Resources
- Petroleum – formation, classification and exploration
- Petroleum – resource distribution, extraction and refining
- Natural Gas and Unconventional Petroleum Resources
- Carbon Capture and Storage
- Nuclear Energy – energy resources and nuclear technology
- Hydroelectricity
- Geothermal Energy
- Solar Energy
- Wind, Waves and Tides
- Biomass and Hydrogen
- Energy Storage Alternatives
- Electrical Power Distribution Systems
- Global Change and Future Energy Technologies
- Markets, Demand and Consumer Behaviour
- Costs, Supply and firm behaviour
- Externalities – production and consumption externalities
- Externalities – the social cost of carbon
- Mitigation strategies
- Economics of power systems
- Energy, Inequality and Development
- The Geopolitics of Energy
- The Institutions of Energy Governance
- Energy and Environment: Deciding on Trade-offs
- Planning, Technocracy and Accountability
- Case Study: Hydroelectric Power in Tasmania
- Case Study: Ontario Hydro and Nuclear Power
- Conservation and Least-Cost Utility Planning
- Governing Transboundary Pollution
- The Politics of Climate Change
- The Governance of Climate Change
- Review: The Politics of Energy
This subject is an elective of the Diploma of Sustainable Living course and explores the interlinked scientific, technical, environmental, economic, social and political factors that have shaped society's energy usage and which will impact on future energy policy and decision making.
Energy science, technology, usage and energy policy affect almost all facets of modern life. Energy is the single most traded commodity in the global economy, it is a significant factor that affects political decision making at global, national, state and local levels, and a major determinant of economic and social wellbeing. Ensuring future responsible, equitable, access to affordable energy for both developed and developing societies is one of the most significant challenges currently facing humanity. Critical and wide-ranging examination of this issue is a major focus of this subject.
This subject will facilitate active and informed student participation in the ongoing debate regarding current and future global energy policy and alternatives. Students will learn about conventional, alternative and potential future energy sources and then set this knowledge in the context of important economic, environmental, social and political factors that affect energy policy.
- Online Quizzes (25%)
- Energy Audit (Calculations) (10%)
- Energy Audit (Report) (25%)
- Energy in Society (Presentation) (30%)
- Energy in Society (Peer Review) (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 20
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 19
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateTAS-SUS-DIP
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.