CVEN 5837-730: Energy Access for Global Engineers

Summer 2025  Session A 
Synchronous Online
Tues/Thurs 10:00-11:15 Mountain Time via Zoom (10 sessions over 5 weeks)

1 credit

Instructor:

Frank Bergh, P.E., M.E. (he/him) frank.bergh@colorado.edu

Office Hours:

By Appointment

Course Information:

The module will offer an introduction to energy access, as defined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #7, to global engineering students. The course will grapple with the myriad factors that cause global inequity in access to energy, leaving roughly 10% of the world’s population with no access to electricity and nearly 50% with unreliable or unaffordable access. Students will understand various modalities of intervention to mitigate energy access deficits, including grid densification, grid expansion, and off-grid solutions including mini-grids and standalone solar solutions. The course will examine the discourse of development through the lens of energy access to understand methodologies, best practices, and shortfalls of contemporary intervention.

Learning Goals:

• Be familiar with energy access interventions and modalities.
• Understand barriers and obstacles to universal access to electricity and modern cooking.
• Be able to identify consequences resulting to lack of energy access on quality of life.
• Conduct assessments of national and local energy planning case studies.

Textbook and Materials:

There is no required text. Readings and research prompts will be proposed throughout the course sessions for students to familiarize themselves with the key topics to be presented. Readings will be provided via Canvas. Check Canvas frequently for updates on lecture content, readings, and assignments.

Course Calendar (Subject to change)

Assignments

The course will require students to complete reading assignments, participate in class sessions, and submit written assignments, culminating in a final presentation to the course. The required assignments are as follows:

• 10% Class Participation: 
  Students are expected to attend all 10 sessions of the course and participate actively in discussions by responding to questions from the instructor and reflections shared by classmates. Students should participate in constructive ways that demonstrate a familiarity with the course material, sensitivity to the needs of other students, and an orientation towards learning and discovery.
   
• 5% Student Introductory Reflection: 
  Will consist of a brief survey for students to complete regarding their level of familiarity with electrical engineering concepts and past experience in unelectrified environments. Students will be invited to share their motivations for taking the course and identify particular learning goals for the module.
   
• 20% Country MTF insights report: 
  Based on the principles of the ESMAP Multi-Tiered Framework of energy access, students will evaluate a national level energy access survey report. The written assignment will be 3-5 pages in length and will include policy regulations based on the students’ interpretation and insights from multiple sources. 
   
• 20% National Electrification Strategy case study: 
  Based on a country of their choice, students will research electrification planning and strategy. Students will evaluate key attributes of electrification planning as well as the level of ambition of the national priorities as it relates to SDG7. 
   
• 20% Impact Evaluation of Energy Access: 
  Students will research and evaluate the state of the art in impact evaluation for energy access projects by comparing at least 2 impact evaluation reports. The purpose of the assignment is to identify quantitative and qualitative measures of the benefits and drawbacks of energy access interventions. Students will also recommend improvements to methodology and outcomes.
   
• 25% Final Project: 
  Based on the course materials, students will create an energy access roadmap for a country or community of their choice. The roadmap will include technical, economic, financial, regulatory, and programmatic principles deriving from the reading assignments and coursework. Students will prepare brief presentations of their final projects to be delivered in class.

Late Policy

Without prior, written consent of the instructor, late work will be penalized with a 10% reduction in the grade for every day between the assignment deadline and the date the assignment was submitted.

Extra Credit

In very rare circumstances, extra credit may be awarded for exceptional effort in coursework. No extra credit is anticipated in the course.

Exams

There are no scheduled exams in this course.

Grading Scheme

Assignments will be graded based on the instructor’s assessment of student achievement and according to the following scale. Overall grades for the module will be calculated as a weighted average, as indicated above.

Classroom Behavior

Students and faculty are responsible for maintaining an appropriate learning environment in all instructional settings, whether in person, remote, or online. Failure to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy,age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or politicalphilosophy.For more information, see the classroom behavior policy , the Student Code of Conduct , and the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (http://www.colorado.edu/policies/student-classroom-and-course-related-behavior) (https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/student-conduct) (https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/student-conduct) (https://www.colorado.edu/oiec/)  (https://www.colorado.edu/oiec/)

Requirement for Infectious Disease

The course is taught in an online format via zoom with no in person class sessions. Students should advise their instructor of any absence resulting from illness or any other reason.

Accommodation for Disabilities, temporary mental conditions, and medical isolation

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit your accommodation letter from Disability Services to your faculty member in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities in the academic environment. Information on requesting accommodations is located on the Disability Services website . Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671or dsinfo@colorado.edu for further assistance. If you have a temporary medical condition,see Temporary Medical Conditions on theDisability Services website.(https://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/) (mailto:dsinfo@colorado.edu) (https://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/students/temporary-medical-conditions)

If you have a required medical isolation for which you require adjustment, please let me know via email at your earliest convenience (you are not required to state the nature of your illness).

Preferred Student Names and Pronouns

CU Boulder recognizes that students' legal information doesn't always align with how they identify. Students may update their preferred names and pronouns via the student portal; those preferred names and pronouns are listed on instructors' class rosters.In the absence of such updates, the name that appears on the class roster is the student's legal name.

Honor Code

All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Honor Code . Violations of the Honor Code may include but are not limited to: plagiarism (including use of paper writing services or technology [such as essay bots]), cheating,fabrication, lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access to academic materials, clicker fraud, submitting the same or similar work inmore than one course without permission from all course instructors involved, and aiding academic dishonesty.(https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/honor-code) (https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/honor-code)

All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution: honor@colorado.edu , 303-492-5550. Students found responsible for violating the Honor Code will be assigned resolution outcomes from the Student Conduct &Conflict Resolution as well as be subject to academic sanctions from the faculty member. Visit Honor Code for more information on the academic integrity policy.(mailto:honor@colorado.edu) (https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/honor-code) (https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/honor-code) (https://www.colorado.edu/sccr/honor-code)

Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, Harassment, and/or Related Retaliation

CU Boulder is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming learning, working, and living environment. University policy prohibits protected-class discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct (harassment, exploitation, and assault), intimate partner violence (dating or domestic violence), stalking, and related retaliation by or against members of our community on- and off-campus. These behaviors harm individuals and our community. The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) addresses these concerns, and individuals who have been subjected to misconduct can contact OIEC at 303-492-2127 or email cureport@colorado.edu . Information about university policies, reporting options , and support resources can be found on the OIECwebsite .(https://www.colorado.edu/oiec/policies/discrimination-harassment-policy/protected-class-definitions) (mailto:cureport@colorado.edu) (https://www.colorado.edu/oiec/reporting-resolutions/ making-report) (https://www.colorado.edu/oiec/support-resources) (http://www.colorado.edu/institutionalequity/)

Please know that faculty and graduate instructors must inform OIEC when they are made aware of incidents related to these policies regardless of when or where something occurred. This is to ensure that individuals impacted receive outreach from OIECabout resolution options and support resources. To learn more about reporting and support for a variety of concerns, visit the Don’t Ignore It page .(https://www.colorado.edu/dontignoreit/) (https://www.colorado.edu/dontignoreit/)

Religious Holidays

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, If this applies to you, please speak with us directly as soon as possible.

See the campus policy regarding religious observances for full details. (http://www.colorado.edu/policies/observance-religious-holidays-and-absencesclasses-andor-exams)

Mental Health and Wellness

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to the well-being of all students. If you are struggling with personal stressors,mental health or substance use concerns that are impacting academic or daily life, please contact Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) located in C4C or call (303) 492-2277, 24/7. Free and unlimited telehealth is also available through Academic Live Care .The Academic Live Care site also provides information about additional wellness services on campus that are available to students.(https://www.colorado.edu/counseling/) (https://www.colorado.edu/health/academiclivecare) (https://www.colorado.edu/health/academiclivecare)