GRöN OMSTäLLNING GENOM UTEKONTORSARBETE

How can we work with nature to design and build our cities? This course explores urban nature and nature-based solutions in cities in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of cities, nature, sustainability and innovation. We discuss how to assess what nature-based solutions can achieve in cities. We examine how innovation is taking place in cities in relation to nature. And we analyse the potential of nature-based solutions to help respond to climate change and sustainability challenges. This course was launched in January 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. The course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Naturvation – a collaborative project on finding synergies between cities, nature, sustainability and innovation. The course features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.   

How can we shape our urban development towards sustainable and prosperous futures? This course explores sustainable cities as engines for greening the economy in Europe and around the world. We place cities in the context of sustainable urban transformation and climate change. We connect the key trends of urbanization, decarbonisation and sustainability. We examine how visions, experiments and innovations can transform urban areas. And we look at practices (what is happening in cities at present) and opportunities (what are the possibilities for cities going forwards into the future). This course was launched in January 2016, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. The course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with WWF and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability who work with creating sustainable cities. The course features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

How can we govern consumption and the sharing economy in our cities? This course explores cities, consumption and the sharing economy in Europe and around the world. We connect together the key themes of the sharing economy, cities, governance, consumption and urban sustainability. We explore how the sharing economy can contribute to increasing social, environmental and economic sustainability. And we argue that it is imperative that the sharing economy is shaped and designed to advance urban sustainability. This course was launched in May 2020, and it was updated in September 2021 with new podcasts, films and publications. This course is produced by Lund University in cooperation with partners from Sharing Cities Sweden – a national program for the sharing economy in cities with a focus on governance and sustainability. It features researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs from a range organisations.

Opens in May 2025. The Swedish version of the course, namely ”Varför välja trä vid nästa byggprojekt?” is already open. For more iformation contact course coordinator dimitris.athanassiadis@slu.seCourse DescriptionDifferent types of biomaterials (e.g., wood) are crucial in the challenge of decarbonizing the built environment and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and infrastructure by replacing materials like steel and cement, which have high carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, we must not forget that it is important to preserve biodiversity and the social values of our forests. The 13 modules of the course cover many forestry related subjects, including harvesting methods, biodiversity, forest management, logistics, the role of forests in the climate transition, carbon storage, environmental benefits of multi-story buildings with wood, and more. The goal is that participants will gain a shared understanding of Swedish forestry so that they can make well-informed decisions about material choices for their next construction project. Course PeriodThe course will be active for 3 years. Content Forest history: The utilization of forests in Sweden throughout the past years Forestry methods and forest management Forest regeneration Wood properties Forest mensuration Forest tree breeding The forest's carbon balance Business models and market development: Focus on wood high rises Nature conservation and biodiversity in the forest Course StructureThe course is fully digital with pre-recorded lectures. You can participate in the course at your own pace. Modules conclude with quizzes where you can test how much you have learned. You will learn aboutUpon completion of the course, you will have learned more about various forest-related concepts, acquired knowledge of forest utilization in Sweden throughout the past years, increased your understanding of forest management and how different management methods affect biodiversity in the forest, and learned about the forestry cycle—from regeneration to final harvesting, etc. Who is this course for?This course is designed for professionals such as architects, municipal employees working with urban planning and construction, individuals in the construction and civil engineering sector, and those in other related fields. This is an introductory course and will contribute to upskilling of the entire construction sector, thereby increasing the industry's international competitiveness while also providing important prerequisites for the development of future sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive cities. Since the course is open to everyone, we hope that more groups, such as students, doctoral candidates, forest owners, and others with an interest in forestry, will take the course and engage with inspiring lectures where scientific knowledge primarily produced within SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) is presented.

Utforska teknikerna bakom den gröna omställningen och lär dig om förnybar energi, energiomvandling och kritiska råmaterial för att kunna värdera energiteknologier och deras miljöpåverkan. Det här är för dig som vill förstå tekniker inom den gröna omställningen. Du lär dig om förnybar energi, energiomvandling och de kritiska råmaterial som driver utvecklingen. Efter kursen kan du beskriva och värdera energiteknologier och deras miljöpåverkan. Kursen går igenom olika energiteknologier inom den gröna omställningen, med fokus på tekniker som kopplar till förnybar energi och de processer som rör energiomvandling. Kursen utgår från ett materialperspektiv och syftar till att ge dig en förståelse för tillämpningar som energiomvandling i bränsleceller och batterier, vätgasproduktion genom elektrolys, artificiell fotosyntes, omvandling av solenergi till värme eller elektrisk energi i solfångare och solceller.Kursen ger också en överblick till andra förnybara energisystem såsom vindkraft, biomassa och vattenkraft, och hur dessa kan samverka i ett systemperspektiv i ett hållbart samhälle. Kritiska råmaterial är viktiga för den gröna omställningen, men de kan vara svåra att få tag på eller farliga för människor och miljö vid utvinning eller användning. Kursen tar upp problematiken kring dessa material och belyser sätt att minska beroendet genom alternativ eller effektivare användning. Kursens upplägg Detta är en Mooc-kurs, dvs den är öppen att söka för alla oavsett bakgrund eller yrkeskategori och kräver inga förkunskaper. Kursen är en fortbildningskurs och ger inga högskolepoäng. För de som är intresserade finns möjlighet att göra en avslutande tentamen, som man anmäler sig till separat. Ingen kurslitteratur krävs, men hänvisning till material på webben eller artiklar kan förekomma. Kursen består av 10 föreläsningar (7 är förinspelade och 3 ges ”live”) på vardera 2 x 45 minuter, följt av diskussioner: Introduktion till den gröna samhällsomställningen Energi och energiomvandlingar Vindkraft Solceller och solvärme Batterier Vätgas - elektrolysörer och bränsleceller Det framtida energisystemets utformning Kritiska råvaror PFAS och miljöaspekter kring den gröna omställningen Resursanvändning, återvinning och återbruk Mål med kursen Efter avklarad kurs kan du: Förstå grundläggande begrepp kring den gröna omställningen, såsom land- och havsbaserad vindkraft, solceller, solvärme, vätgas, elektrolysörer, bränsleceller, Li-jon batterier, kritiska råmaterial och PFAS. Förstå grundläggande begrepp inom energi och energiomvandling såsom energi, effekt, energidensitet och verkningsgrad. Översiktligt beskriva processer som rör bränsleceller, batterier, solfångare, solceller och elektrolysörer.Förstå effektiviteten för olika processer vad gäller omvandling från en energiform till en annan, såsom värme till mekanisk energi, solljus till kemisk energi och kemisk energi till elektrisk energi. Beskriva materialspecifika egenskaper som är viktiga för funktionen för tillämpningar inom olika förnybara energisystem. Förklara grundläggande begrepp såsom global uppvärmning, energibalans och miljömässig hållbarhetFörstå grundläggande begrepp såsom kritiska råmaterial och vilka metoder och strategier som finns för att minska samhällets behov av dessa. Målgrupp Kursen riktar sig till dig som vill få en bättre förståelse kring de tekniker som diskuteras flitigt i samband med den gröna omställningen. Kursen passar både studenter på eftergymnasial nivå och yrkesverksamma så som till exempel politiker, journalister, ingenjörer och lärare.

  About the courseRenewable hydrogen stands out as a highly promising solution to decarbonize heavy industries and transportation sector, helping to achieve the climate goals of Sweden- reaching net zero emissions by 2045. The terms renewable hydrogen, clean hydrogen or green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced from renewable energy or raw material. The utilization of renewable hydrogen for industrial applications necessitates the development of the entire value chain, from generation and storage to transport and final applications. Unlocking the potential of hydrogen economy in Sweden involves not only technological advancements and infrastructure development but also a skilled workforce. This course offers an introduction of renewable hydrogen as a pivotal component for industrial applications, focusing on its generation, storage, transport, and utilization within industrial contexts. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of renewable hydrogen technologies, such as electrolysis, fuel cell, and hydrogen storage and distribution solutions, preparing them with essential knowledge and foundational insights for advancing the decarbonization of industrial processes through the adoption of hydrogen-based energy solutions. Aim and Learning OutcomesThe goal of this course is to develop a basic understanding of renewable hydrogen as a pivotal component for industrial applications, focusing on its generation, storage, transport, and utilization within industrial contexts.The learning outcomes of the course are to be able to: Explain the fundamental knowledge and theories behind electrolysis and fuel cell technologies. Compare and describe the differences of existing renewable hydrogen generation technologies (PEM, AE, AEM, SOE, etc.), and existing fuel cell technologies (PEMFC, MSFC, SOFC, etc.. Describe the principles of hydrogen storage, including gas phase, liquid phase, and material-based storage and thermal management of storage systems. Identify the challenges of hydrogen transportation and be able to describe relevant solutions. Examples of professional roles that will benefit from this course are energy and chemical engineers, renewable and energy transition specialists, policy makers and energy analysts. This course will also support the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries, such as metallurgical industry and oil refinery industry, by using renewable hydrogen. This course is given by Mälardalen university in cooperation with Luleå University of Technology. Scheduled online seminars April 22nd, 2025May 19th, 2025 Study effort: 80 hours