Clean Molecules for the Energy Transition

3 weeks

Clean Molecules: Hydrogen, Biogas, Biomethane, Synthetic Gas

Within the EU Green Deal vision and framework, renewable, low-carbon, and even emission-negative gases have a crucial role to play in decarbonising the EU economy and improving the security and affordability of energy.

These so-called “clean molecules”(biogases, hydrogen, and synthetic gases) can support in areas where direct electrification is not possible or practical, provide solutions in key ‘hard to abate’ areas of the economy, as well as facilitating the development of circular economies and the integration of energy sectors. The recent energy crisis in Europe has also brought an added impetus to accelerate the growth of these sectors to improve the EU’s energy security.

For these reasons (and more besides), clean molecules are now a key priority for policymakers and industry, making the debate around their uptake in strategic areas an important EU policy and regulatory focus.

The ‘Clean Molecules for the Energy Transition’ course from the Florence School of Regulation covers the key issues in this fast-evolving area. The three-week training (2 weeks of reading and preparation, 1 week of live classes) offers a comprehensive overview of the development of clean molecules in the EU and beyond.

The course is delivered by leading professionals from academia, policy-making, and the world of practice through:

  • targeted reading and audiovisual materials
  • presentation of relevant case studies
  • topical and interactive discussions
  • specialist lectures
  • panel debates

Registration is open to all professionals (institutions, utilities, associations, academics and researchers) following the debate on the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

Early bird Discount
10% discount for registrations and payments made by 10 April 2024
  • Dates
    10 Jun 2024 - 30 Jun 2024
  • Level
    Specialised
  • Type
    Online
  • Workload
    8 hours/week
  • Register by
    10 May 2024
Overview

The EU Green Deal established a vision and a framework towards the goal of carbon neutrality for the bloc by 2050. This vision has since been applied in subsequent strategies pertaining to key areas, for example the Energy System Integration Strategy (2020) and the EU Hydrogen Strategy (2020). These two Communications envisage a prominent role in decarbonising the energy sector for the so-called “renewable and low carbon gases” or “clean molecules” (biogas, biomethane, hydrogen and synthetic methane).

Despite limited use of clean molecules to date, they are quickly attracting growing attention from policy makers and industry who see them as a potential sector coupling tool to balance energy grids as well as a means to decarbonise certain hard-to-abate sectors. As a result, the debate around clean molecules and their uptake in strategic areas has become an important EU policy and regulatory focus.

However, is the attention and excitement around clean molecules justified? How important are clean molecules for the achievement of carbon neutrality and in which areas? How are clean molecules different from each other and how are they different from fossil alternatives? What economic and regulatory barriers are stifling their market uptake and how can they be removed? Which technologies seem more promising and cost-efficient? We will explore all of these questions and more.

This intensive online training is expected to engage you for approximately 8 hours/week (excluding live classes).

Course structure

The course comprises two preparatory weeks followed by one week of online sessions. From 10-23 June 2024, you will have access to our learning platform, allowing you to progress through the course materials, quizzes, and activities at your own pace.

During these self-paced weeks, you have the flexibility to manage your time according to your schedule, as there are no scheduled live classes, except for a one-hour welcome session.

The week of live sessions (24–30 June 2024) includes online classes and expert panels. Your active participation is required for a substantial portion of the day, spanning from 09:30 to 14.30 CET.

 

Week 1 & 2 (10-23 June 2024) | Preparatory weeks

  • Welcome Class11 June 2024, 12:00-13:00 CEST

Week 3 (24-30 June 2024) | Live sessions

  • Day 1 | Clean molecules in the EUMonday 24 June 2024 CEST
  • Day 2 | HydrogenTuesday 25 June 2024 CEST
  • Day 3 | Regulation and marketsWednesday 26 June 2024 CEST
  • Day 4 | Externalities of a clean molecules economyThursday 27 June 2024 CEST
  • Day 5 | EU perspective and participant presentationsFriday 28 June 2024 CEST

Each day of the live classes will be structured as follows:

  •  9.00-9.15: Welcome and Orientation
  • 9:15-10:15: Lecture 1
  • 10.15-11.15: Lecture 2
  • 11.15-11.30: Coffee break
  • 11.30-12.30: Case study
  • 12.30-13.30: Lunch break
  • 13.30-14.30: Panel Debate

An updated program will be available soon; in the meantime, the one from the previous year is available for download as a general reference.

Content
  • The EU context and policy debate
  • Definitions (taxonomy) of renewable and low-carbon gas
  • Biogas and biomethane production processes
  • Energy decarbonisation in non-EU countries
  • Energy transition challenges
  • Transporting renewable and low carbon gases
  • Power-to-gas: technology and costs
  • Pyrolysis: technology and costs
  • CCS: how it works and pilot projects
  • National hydrogen/ decarbonisation strategies
  • The main regulatory barriers for clean molecules
  • A dynamic approach to regulation
  • Triggering development via the ETS
  • Governance of the decarbonised gas sector
  • Clean molecules and methane emissions
  • How to design a circular economy
  • Decarbonisation in LNG and storage
Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify how clean molecules are different from their fossil alternatives
  • Describe the role of clean molecules in achieving EU long-term climate and energy objectives
  • Analyse the impact of clean molecules on the environment
  • Assess the market viability of clean molecules and propose strategies to enhance their adoption.
  • Formulate arguments regarding the latest advancements in the sector, encompassing various gases and technologies.
  • Assess the legal and regulatory challenges related to the uptake of clean molecules
Target group and knowledge level

Registration is open to all professionals (institutions, utilities, associations, academics and researchers) following the debate on decarbonisation of the energy system who are interested in having a deeper understanding of the future role of gas and its support to the energy transition.

No specific academic background is required. The language of instruction is English.

FSR Annual Scholarships

Each year, the Florence School of Regulation – Energy and Climate (FSR Energy & Climate) awards scholarships for a wide variety of training courses targeting a broad audience of professionals and academics.

Applications will be assessed by a Selection Committee of FSR members on a yearly basis. The successful candidates will be informed after February 2024 and will be provided with all relevant information on how to enroll in the online course or residential training of their choice.

Send your application by 28 January 2024.

Find more information here

Fees & Cancellation policy
Fees:
  • General fee: 1,870 EUR
  • Students fee (with a certificate of current studies*): 440 EUR
  • Associate donors fee (10%): 1,683 EUR
  • Major donors fee (20%): 1,496 EUR
  • Star donors fee (25%): 1,402 EUR

Cancellation policy 

Paid registration fee is non-refundable. However, registrant substitution may be made up to 20 days before the start date of the course. 

 

*Please kindly send your certificate of current studies with the stamp of your university to FSR secretariat (fsr.secretariat@eui.eu).
The start and end dates of your studies should also be clearly mentioned on the document. Please make sure that your period of studies fully covers the training course duration.

 

 

The Learning Approach
Collaborative
A chance to collaborate with your peers the main experts in the field.
Interactive
Join a community of experts to discuss the latest developments in the sector.
Real-life cases
Address a European real-life case with the support of our instructors.
Online interactive sessions
Weekly live classes with different Course Instructors. Participants will have a close interaction with the Instructors during the live sessions.
Course Faculty

Any doubt?
Contact your course facilitator

Contact Marina
Clean Molecules for the Energy Transition

Clean molecules are now a key priority for policymakers and industry, making the debate around their uptake in strategic areas an important EU policy and regulatory focus

What Participants say about this course

This course is perfect! I have improved my knowledge on Clean Molecules so much, and I hope it could be longer!! The panelists and also the stuff of the course were amazing. They exceeded my expectations!

Lucía, participant from the 2023 edition

I got a great feedback from one of last year's attendees about clean mollecules. After I checked out the course program, and saw that topics really interesting and the lecturers are absolutely the best in their field. Now after the course has finished, I can say with 100% confidence, that the course is relevant to the conditions we are facing today. Strongly recommend!

Andrii T., participant from the 2023 edition

It was a horizon broadening and enlightening training. Thanks to the highly qualified trainers and the effective documents they prepared, we had the chance to improve our knowledge and to evaluate and digest this knowledge through active discussions.

Participant from the 2023 edition

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone in the energy industry as this course give a broad perspective of the energy transition scenarios and what it means for not just the EU, but for other regions.

Participant from the 2023 edition

This is a great course, I recommend it to anyone who is willing to develop their competence in the renewable energy landscape

Participant from the 2023 edition

I would definitely recommend this course to anyone in the energy industry as this course give a broad perspective of the energy transition scenarios and what it means for not just the EU, but for other climes.

Participant from the 2022 edition

It was a horizon broadening and enlightening training. Thanks to the highly qualified trainers and the effective documents they prepared, we had the chance to improve our knowledge and to evaluate and digest this knowledge through active discussions.

Participant from the 2022 edition

The course provided a good insight into future energy solutions based on clean molecules. The course program covered strategic, technical, regulatory and economic issues on a specific topic. The meeting with experts in panel discussions was a good opportunity to discuss current issues with industry decision-makers.

Olavs Kiecis, Head of Development, Latvijas Gāze

The course opened up the opportunity for me to learn more about the topic of Clean Molecules: the broad scope of topics, the current relevance to the European discourse and, most importantly, the access to renowned personalities in the field were unique. After "Regulation of the Power Sector" and "Executive Course on Electricity Markets", this course was another great experience with the Florence School of Regulation for me! (Marc Bahlo)

Participant from the 2022 edition

It was a very usefull course, with all the new topics concernig H2 and renewable gases being discussed in EU and all over the world.

Participant from the 2022 edition
Course in numbers
3
Editions
38
Instructors
81
Participants
15
Countries of origin

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