When Energy Becomes a Weapon: Students Take Action

How can a company in the energy market prepare for the fact that oil and gas are increasingly becoming targets of blackmail? Students in the Bachelor’s and master's degree programs in Energy & Sustainability Management at Kufstein University of Applied Sciences, together with industry representatives, explored precisely this question. On April 15 and 16, they met at the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences to use ProAccom GmbH’s Energy Next simulation game to make economic relationships tangible and allow participants to experience decision-making firsthand.

The workshop focused on the practical implementation of processes in commodity trading and distribution. Participants took on the roles of fictional energy suppliers and moved through the entire value chain - from power plant operations to energy trading and distribution. In a liberalized market, they made strategic decisions and observed their effects in real time.

SIMULATION WITH A STRATEGIC AND SUSTAINABLE FOCUS

Divided into ten fictional companies, the participants competed in a free energy market. In the end, the good strategy determined their success. Some events, such as the phase-out of nuclear energy, were predictable, while others, such as the gas crisis and oil shortages, required them to react on the spot.

It quickly became clear just how complex the requirements were: on the one hand, the goal was to attract customers who were increasingly price-sensitive; on the other hand, investments in new facilities and technologies also had to be taken into account. This tension shaped the Energy Next energy market simulation, which was conducted in business English for the first time this year.

Lobbying efforts with the government and negotiations with banks regarding loan terms for new investments in power plants also played a central role. To secure investments and enable growth, it was crucial to provide sound justification for strategies and communicate them effectively. The game masters - Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Woyke in the role of the government and Kristin Unteregger, MA, in the role of the bank - intervened in market activities through subsidies and taxes.

A PRACTICAL SIMULATION GAME AS PART OF THE DEGREE PROGRAM

The simulation game has been an integral part of the curriculum at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol for more than ten years. It allows participants to experience the complex procedures and interrelationships of the energy market, the electricity exchange, and politics in a realistic setting. For the first time, the workshop was conducted entirely in English, the language of the trade.

The participants were guided by consultants, while lecturers from the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol facilitated the market scenarios. The format was further enriched by experts from industries who shared their experiences, thereby providing a clearer understanding of the real dynamics of the energy market.

“With this simulation, we can piece together the knowledge and skills / competencies that students have acquired during their degree program, just like a puzzle. Everything is somehow connected,” says Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Woyke, adjunct lecturer in Energy Business at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tyrol.

Links:

• Energy & Sustainability Management | pt
• Energy Next | Practical Simulation Game