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Net Zero-Carbon Fuels
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Programs:
Net Zero-Carbon Fuels
Units:
32 hours
Format:
Live Online
Duration:
Jun 23 2025 ~ Jul 09 2025
Cost:
Free
Credit(s):
2
Course Description

As nations bind together to tackle global climate change, one of the urgent needs is the energy sector’s transition from being fossil-fuel reliant to embracing sustainable carbon-free solutions. Through a multi-national collaboration, this course aims to introduce a redefined perspective of fuel utilisation for the power and transportation sectors, placing emphasis on alternative fuels derived from renewable resources that are essential contributors to the goals of carbon neutrality. Some of the low or zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and emerging low carbon fuels adaptable to current or new energy systems will be explored in the context of production, utilisation, economics and sustainability. The impacts of future fuels on the environment, resource availability and social well-being need to be holistically considered and supported by diverse solutions, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals of Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and other related SDGs as put forth by the United Nations. From this course, the students will grasp the broad concept of alternative fuel production, application and challenges faced in moving towards a net zero-carbon society. 

Relevant SDGs: SDG 7- Clean and Affordable Energy, SDG 13-Climate Action

Academic Team

PI: 

  • Dr. Cheng Tung Chong, Associate Professor, China-UK Low Carbon College

Collaborators:

  • Dr. Agustin Valera-Medina, Professor, Cardiff University, ValeraMedinaA1@cardiff.ac.uk
  • Dr. Ng Jo-Han, Associate Professor, University of Southampton Malaysia, J.Ng@soton.ac.uk
  • Dr. Aiduan Borrion, Associate Professor, University College London, a.borrion@ucl.ac.uk
What skills will students get?

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

  1. Describe the roles of alternative fuels for power and transportation sectors in the context of carbon neutrality in China and relate to the sustainable development goals.
  2. Describe the production process, potential application and limitations of alternative fuels in the context of power and transportation sectors.
  3. Assess the impact of alternative fuel usage on the local resources, society and nation in alignment of the sustainable development goals

Each student will receive an E-certificate from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The credits (2) are transferable depending on the credit arrangements policy of the student’s university.

Mode of Teaching

Teaching mode: Synchronous

Type: Online lecture + Group discussion + Group project

Grading
  1. Attendance: 20%;
  2. Assignments: 40%;
  3. Group Presentation: 40%
Course-specific Restrictions
  1. Full-time undergraduate students of all disciplines from universities around the world are welcome.
  2. Participants are required to attain a passing mark of ≥60, attend 70% of the course live online (including the final day presentation) to be eligible for the graduating E-certificate.
  3. Refer to the detailed schedule attached to ensure your availability for the course before registering.
  4. Limited slots are available. Participants will receive a confirmation email if the registration is successful.
Class Schedule

Week

Date
(DD/MM)

Week Day

Time(UTC+8)

Topic

Credit hours

Teaching mode

Instructor in charge

1

23/6

Mon

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L1: Introduction to SDG with emphasis on SDG 7

3

Online lecture + discussion

CCT

1

24/6

Tue

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L2:Green hydrogen as energy carrier

Production, use (fuel cells and combustion) and vectors (inc. ammonia)

3

Online lecture + discussion

AVM

1

25/6

Wed

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L3:Green ammonia as energy carrier

Production, distribution, fuel cells, combustion

3

Online lecture + discussion

AVM

1

26/6

Thu

16:00-17:40 (UTC+8)

T1:Topical review 1

2

Group discussion

AVM

2

30/6

Mon

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L4:Sustainable aviation propulsion

Production, application and sustainability

3

Online lecture + discussion

CCT

2

1/7

Tue

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L5:Advancements of biofuels

Biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas production, application

3

Online lecture + discussion

NJH

2

2/7

Wed

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L6: Biofuels sustainability: EWF + SDG perspectives

3

Online lecture + discussion

NJH

2

3/7

Thu

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L7:Electrification

Power-to-X, transport electrification

3

Online lecture + discussion

CCT

3

7/7

Mon

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L8:Emerging zero-carbon fuels

Production of methanol, waste-derived fuel, solar fuel

3

Online lecture + discussion

NJH

3

8/7

Tue

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

L9:Life cycle analysis

LCA to support sustainable biofuels

3

Online lecture + discussion

AB

3

9/7

Wed

16:00-18:45 (UTC+8)

Group project presentations

3

Group presentation

CCT/NJH/AVM/

AB

Total

32

 

 

Course Contact

Prof. Agustin Valera-Medina: ValeraMedinaA1@cardiff.ac.uk

Dr. Ng Jo-Han: J.Ng@soton.ac.uk

Dr. Chong Cheng Tung: ctchong@sjtu.edu.cn

Dr. Aiduan Borrion: a.borrion@ucl.ac.uk

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