Chemical Technologies for the Energy Transition with Laboratory
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course explores advanced methods and innovative chemical technologies for the exploitation, conversion, and storage of energy sources, with a focus on renewables. It also examines market trends, providing tools for critical evaluation and comparison of the performance of different methods and devices.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will learn how to conjugate the scientific and technical approach for the exploitation of energy sources with the environmental and economic/industrial issues. Students will be able to discuss pros and cons of different processes aimed at the same final product (e.g. hydrogen production and storage, electricity production, distribution and storage).
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Introduction to Energy Transition: Global energy demand and sustainability challenges; Overview of renewable and conventional energy sources; Critical raw materials;
The role of chemistry in energy transition.
Current Electricity Production and Thermal Power Plants: Conventional thermal power plants: coal, oil, and natural gas; Efficiency and environmental impact of thermal power generation; flue gas treatment
Renewable Energy Technologies: Photovoltaics: principles, materials, testing and efficiency improvements; Solar thermal energy; Wind and hydro energy; Biomass and biofuels: conversion processes and sustainability
Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion: Primary and secondary batteries: lithium-ion and beyond; Fuel cells: types, applications, and challenges; redox flow batteries
Hydrogen Economy: Hydrogen production, storage, and utilization; Electrolyzers: types, materials, and challenges
Electrification and energy-saving technologies: the case of household heating and transportation
Emerging technologies: Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); Synthetic fuels
Thematic seminars, also in collaboration with private companies, will deal with specific topics such as nuclear energy and CO2 capture and storage
The role of chemistry in energy transition.
Current Electricity Production and Thermal Power Plants: Conventional thermal power plants: coal, oil, and natural gas; Efficiency and environmental impact of thermal power generation; flue gas treatment
Renewable Energy Technologies: Photovoltaics: principles, materials, testing and efficiency improvements; Solar thermal energy; Wind and hydro energy; Biomass and biofuels: conversion processes and sustainability
Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion: Primary and secondary batteries: lithium-ion and beyond; Fuel cells: types, applications, and challenges; redox flow batteries
Hydrogen Economy: Hydrogen production, storage, and utilization; Electrolyzers: types, materials, and challenges
Electrification and energy-saving technologies: the case of household heating and transportation
Emerging technologies: Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); Synthetic fuels
Thematic seminars, also in collaboration with private companies, will deal with specific topics such as nuclear energy and CO2 capture and storage
Prerequisites for admission
Fundamentals of physical chemistry; fundamentals of chemical processes and plants.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching, exercises and simulations. Laboratory practice: preparation and characterization of energy conversion devices
Teaching Resources
Slides and other supporting material are provided by the teachers at the MyARIEL website
Suggested books:
- Peter Atkins, Julio De Paula, Atkins' Physical Chemistry
- Rudiger Memming, Semiconductor Electrochemistry, Wiley (available in the UniMI online library)
- Handbook of Power Systems, Springer (available in the UniMI online library)
Vol. 3 The World Scientific Handbook of Energy", edited by Gerard M. Crawley, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., 2013 (available in the UniMI online library)
Suggested books:
- Peter Atkins, Julio De Paula, Atkins' Physical Chemistry
- Rudiger Memming, Semiconductor Electrochemistry, Wiley (available in the UniMI online library)
- Handbook of Power Systems, Springer (available in the UniMI online library)
Vol. 3 The World Scientific Handbook of Energy", edited by Gerard M. Crawley, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., 2013 (available in the UniMI online library)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral: critical discussion of the nature, geographical distribution, abundance, transmission and storage of the energy sources and of conversion and storage technologies. The student should also prepare a short experimental report regarding the laboratory activities.
CHIM/02 - PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY - University credits: 9
Laboratories: 48 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Everytime upon appointment by mail
Office of the teacher or MS Teams