Transformative approaches to energy, mobility and smart cities

Cities around the world face numerous challenges. In particular, crucial ‘systems of provision’ such as urban energy and mobility are under unprecedented pressure due to the increasing resource depletion and the impacts of climate change. Addressing these challenges requires transformations not only by implementing innovative technologies but also a radical change of the broader system in which these technologies are embedded - including regulations, culture, practices and routines. However, a key question is how to transform the current unsustainable energy and mobility practices in the city of today and create smart cities of tomorrow?

This course will help you develop specific competencies essential to address this question, which usually falls outside engineering education. After completion, you will obtain the necessary tools and skills to make your efforts and projects more effective and contribute to the systemic transformation of the urban energy and mobility systems.

Additional information material
The following material is obligatory and additional reading for all of this course. All pieces are available via online TU/e library, which you can access via your TU/e account.

Overview of course material. Obligatory readings are in bold.

Introduction to the Sustainability Transitions field:

Elzen,B., Wieczorek, A. J. (2005). sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162505000557?via%3Dihub

The multi-level perspective (MLP):

Geels, F.W. (2002). Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: A multi-level perspective and a case-study. Research Policy, 31(8-9), pp. 1257-1274,http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733302000628 (Links to an external site.)

Geels, F.W., Schot, J. (2007). Typology of socio-technical transition pathways. Research Policy, 36(3), pp. 399-417, sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733307000248

Verbong G., and Geels, F. (2007). The ongoing energy transition: Lessons from a socio-technical, multi-level analysis of the Dutch electricity system (1960–2004), Energy Policy, 35(2), 1025-1037, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421506000899

Visioning:

Wiek, A., Iwaniec, D., 2014. “Quality criteria for sustainability visioning”. Sustainability Science, 9 (4), pp 497–512

Wiek, A., Iwaniec, D. (2014b). “Advancing Sustainability Visioning Practice in Planning— The General Plan Update in Phoenix, Arizona”. Planning Practice & Research, 29 (5), 543-568

Strategic Niche Management (SNM):

Smith, A., Raven, R. (2012). “What is protective space? Reconsidering niches in transitions to sustainability”. Research Policy, 41(6), 1025–1036

Verhees, B., Raven, R., Veraart, F., Smith, A., & Kern, F. (2013). The development of solar PV in the Netherlands: A case of survival in unfriendly contexts. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 19, 275–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.011

Schot J and Geels F.W (2008) “Strategic Niche Management and Sustainable Innovation Journeys: Theory, Findings, Research Agenda, and Policy”. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 20(5), pp. 537–554.

New Business Models:

Clinton and Whisnant, 2014. 20 BM innovations for sustainability, https://www.peterfisk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-Sustainable-Business-Model-Innovations.pdf

Read wikipedia entry on Business Model Canvas by Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2009: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Model_Canvas

Watch the four short youtube films with Jan Jonker:

Community - Jan Jonker - Nieuwe Business Modellen in de WEconomy.

Principes - Jan Jonker - Nieuwe Business Modellen in de WEconomy.

Waarde propositie - Jan Jonker - Nieuwe Business Modellen in de WEconomy.

Ontwerp - Jan Jonker - Nieuwe Business Modellen in de WEconomy.

Joyce, A., Paquin, R.L., 2016. The triple layered business model canvas : A tool to design more sustainable business models. J. Clean. Prod. 135, 1474–1486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.067

Environmental Justice:

Williams, S. and Doyon, A. (2019) ‘Justice in energy transitions’, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. Elsevier, 31(July 2018), pp. 144–153. doi: 10.1016/j.eist.2018.12.001.

Davoudi, S. and Brooks, E. (2014) ‘When Does Unequal become Unfair? Judging Claims of Environmental Injustice’, Environment and Planning A, 46(11), pp. 2686–2702. doi: 10.1068/a130346p.

Breukers, S. et al. (2017) ‘Institutional “lock-out” towards local self-governance? Environmental justice and sustainable transformations in Dutch social housing neighbourhoods’, Energy Research & Social Science. Elsevier Ltd, 23, pp. 148–158. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2016.10.007.

After following a series of lectures and creative and strongly interactive sessions you will acquire three system innovation essentials:

• Systemic perspective: it is a critical skill that helps acknowledge both technological and societal changes in the way societies consume and produce energy;
• Envisioning: it is a competence that helps develop coherent future guidance that connects short-term actions with long-term visions;
• Innovative collaboration and partnership, which are enablers of smart combinations of skills, expertise, and resources necessary for a systemic change.

Je moet voldoen aan de volgende eisen

• Ingeschreven voor een opleiding van de faculteit Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences

• Course materials in the form of articles will be made available one month before the start of the course. See under content.