Physics of Sustainable Energy

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

In the course Physics of Sustainable Energy we will bridge core physics concepts such as thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and electromagnetism with pressing issues in sustainable energy. Through a combination of theoretical principles on a diverse range of energy conversion/storage technologies and real-world applications, students will build a framework to analyze the impact of science on the energy sector and its societal relevance. The course explores diverse methods of energy conversion and harvesting. The first half of the course reviews the thermodynamics of energy conversion and demonstrates how these principles apply to technologies such as geothermal, wind, and water based energy conversion. The second half of the course builds an understanding of semiconductor based technologies, covering photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, solar fuels, and batteries. The focus will be on the physical principles driving these technologies, with an emphasis on efficiency, durability, and environmental impact. Along the way, we will examine a range of materials used in these technologies, and we will also discuss specific case studies demonstrating these technologies in practice.

Study materials

Practical training material

• Practice problem sets

Other

• Lecture 

  slides

Objectives

• The student can identify sustainable energy resources and technologies within the context of potential or kinetic energy frameworks and apply relevant models to analyzing their mechanisms.
• The student can apply concepts related to thermodynamic cycles and heat engines to the understanding of real-world energy harvesting technologies
• The student understands the basics of semiconductor physics, including energy harvesting and charge transport, within the context of sustainable energy technologies.
• The student can correlate light-matter interaction with semiconductor band theory
• The student can apply Planck’s law and blackbody radiation concepts to sustainable energy resources

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Self-study

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (TER-B):

• Each student is expected to participate actively in each component of the programme that he/she signed up for. A student that does not attend the first two seminars of a course, will be administratively removed from the seminar group. A request for reregistration for the seminars can be applied to the programme coordinator.
• If a student cannot attend an obligatory component of a programme's component due to circumstances beyond his control, he must report in writing to the relevant teacher as soon as possible. The teacher, if necessary after consulting the study adviser, may decide to issue the student a replacing assignment.
• It is not allowed to miss obligatory commponents of the programme if there is no case of circumstances beyond one's control.
• In case of participating qualitatively or quantitatively insufficiently, the examiner can expel a student from further participation in the programme's component or a part of that component. Conditions for sufficient participation are set down in advance in the course manual.

Assessment

The course will be assessed based on two exams, each covering half of the content:

Exam 1 will be on Wednesday, April 22, and will cover the first half of the course. Exam 2 will be on Thursday, May 28, and will cover the second half of the course.

During the exams, you are permitted one physical A4 sheet of notes, front and back. You are expected to bring your own calculator. You may not use any electronic devices with internet connectivity (laptop, phone, tablet, etc.).

The final grade will be an average of the two exams, weighted at 50% each.

A minimum grade of 5.5 on the each exam is required to pass the course.

The retake on June 29 will offer three options: an Exam 1, Exam 2, or global retake. 

• If you scored < 5.5 on Exam 1, but > 5.5 on Exam 2, you only need to do the Exam 1 retake.
• If you scored > 5.5 on Exam 1, but <5.5 on Exam 2, you only need to do the Exam 2 retake.
• If you scored <5.5 on both Exam 1 and Exam 2, you will need to do the global retake, which will cover the entire course. It will still be a 2 hr exam, and will be calibrated appropriately for the time.

You may participate in the retake only if you have taken the original exam, and then for a maximum score of 6.5. If for some reason you cannot participate in the original exam, contact the course coordinator.

Inspection of assessed work

The moments for inspecting assessed work will be announced via Canvas, with signup deadlines indicated. 

Assignments

The Werkcollege will offer the opportunity to work on practice problem sets with the help of the TAs and your peers. These problem sets will be representative of the exam content.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. C. Ramanan

Staff

• G. Miao
• K. Setayeshmehr