Energy, Enterprise and Development

This course examines the relationship between energy production, human development, and sustainability. It explores how energy projects, businesses, and policies—collectively referred to as “energy enterprises”—operate in frontier markets and developing countries. Students will analyze how energy access and use intersect with critical issues such as poverty, gender, health, displacement, and environmental justice.

Course modules cover energy systems and actors, urban and agricultural applications, and thematic challenges such as energy ethics, cooking fuels, and displaced populations. Students will conduct applied research on one of five selected topics, culminating in an enterprise proposal. Assignments include issue mapping, case analysis, and basic financial feasibility assessment.

By the end of the course, students will be able to connect global sustainability frameworks to practical, locally grounded enterprise planning. The course emphasizes systems thinking, ethical analysis, and a balanced approach to energy and development goals.