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Sustainable Energy Technologies

(Optional Course)

  

CCC Lecturer: Dr Rachel Dunk and Mark Mckenna                                          back to MSc courses

This course offers a thought provoking approach to modern energy technologies, providing a comprehensive overview of renewable and non-renewable energy generation set within the context of sustainability and current political environmental and economic drivers.

During the course we examine the potential components of a future low carbon energy portfolio, including renewable energy technologies, bio-energy, energy from waste, carbon capture and storage, nuclear power, and fuel cells.

The course will address the relative impacts and efficiencies of these different technologies, assessing their planning requirements, technical efficiencies, transmission logistics, environmental impacts and economic feasibility, both within the UK and worldwide.

This course benefits from workshops and site visits with commercial and academic experts, providing our graduates with up to the minute practical information.  For example, graduates selecting this course will be hosted by our MSc sponsors, the Natural Power Consultants, for a 2 day wind power workshop.  This includes a day at The Green House, where our graduates are guided through the development of a wind-farm, from project inception to on-going site management, and a site visit to the Natural Power operated Crystal Rig wind farm. We also takes full advantage of the wealth of renewable energy in the region, with field trips to local biomass and biogas power plants, in addition to examples of micro-renewable generation in public buildings and domestic houses.

 

 

 

 Aims

  1. To provide understanding of the drivers (regulatory and otherwise) for the generation and delivery of low carbon energy
  2. To develop knowledge of the processes, plans and procedures associated with undertaking sustainable energy projects, both at a micro and macro scale
  3. To gain an understanding of the technical, environmental, financial and societal impacts of different sustainable energy technologies
  4. To gain an understanding of the operational limitations of these technologies in the field
  5. To gain an understanding of the technical regulatory and public perception challenges faced by the industry in achieving national and international objectives
  

 Intended Learning Outcomes

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

    1. Understand the drivers for sustainable energy, from a regulatory, business, and environmental perspective
    2. Describe the technical requirements, potential environmental impacts, and efficiencies of different sustainable energy technologies (wind, solar, hydro, wave/tidal, biomass and biogas, fossil fuel + CCS, nuclear, hydrogen fuel cells)
    3. Assess the life time economics and carbon impact of sustainable energy technologies
    4. Demonstrate an understanding of the various types of energy demand (e.g. base and load following electricity, transport fuels, space and water heating), and identify appropriate sustainable energy technologies to meet these different demands
    5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role that sustainable energy can play in total UK energy generation requirements (including understanding of transmission feasibility) both in the short and long term
    6. Apply these understandings to case studies of sustainable energy technologies
    		  

     Assessment 

    • Individual essay (30%)
    • Sustainable Energy Feasibility Assessment & Recommendations (30%) 
    • Performance in workshop activities and tasks (10%)
    • Examination (30%)

    Summative assessment: assessment contributing to a final grade for the course

    		  

     Teaching Hours

      Ten teaching weeks, each comprising of some two hours of lectures and up to three hours of seminar/workshop/field class

      • Lectures: 20 hours (2 hours per week for 10 teaching weeks)
      • Seminars/Workshops: 30 hours (3 hours per week for 10 teaching weeks)

      Total: 50 hours (5 hours per week for 10 teaching weeks)

      		  

       Timetable: Semester II

      Tuesday 10:00 - 12:00 (Lecture)

      Tuesdat 13:00-16:00 (Seminar/Workshop)

      		  

       Prescribed and recommended texts

        Please note updated texts are likely to come online prior to 2010/11.  Based on current press:

        • Boyle, G (2004). Renewable Energy – Power for a sustainable future Oxford University Press second edition  KB180 2004-B
        • Cassedy, ES and Grossman, PZ (1998).  Introduction to Energy.  Resources, Technology, and Society.  Cambridge University Press second edition  KB 150 1998-C
        • Gipe, P (2004).  Windpower.  James and James  KB 540 2004-G
        • Rosillo-Calle, F (Ed) (2007).  The Biomass Assessment Handbook – bio-energy for a sustainable environment Earthscan  KB270 2007-R
        • Scheer, H (2002).  The Solar Economy – renewable energy for a sustainable global future.  Earthscan  KB180 2002-S
        • Sorensen, B (2004).  Renewable Energy.  Elsevier Third edition  KB150 2004-S
        • Twidell, J and Weir, T (2006). Renewable Energy Resources.  Taylor and Francis second edition  KB150 2006-T
        		  
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