Course: Introduction Energy credits: 5

The course explores the growing demand for energy and the need to use fossil fuels more efficiently and sustainably, following the principles of the trias energetica. Students study thermodynamics, gas laws, and cycle processes to understand how chemical energy in closed systems is converted into work. They analyze current and future energy transitions in the Netherlands, calculate energetic efficiency and CO₂ impacts of more sustainable alternatives, and represent state changes in pV‑diagrams. Students also describe idealized processes (isentropic, isobaric, isothermal) and propose efficiency improvements. A hands‑on bicycle pump practicum reinforces the theoretical concepts.