Study information

Solar Energy Research and Innovation - 2019 entry

MODULE TITLESolar Energy Research and Innovation CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODECSMM427 MODULE CONVENERUnknown
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 10
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 15
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

An advanced course covering state of the art advanced solar technologies including advanced solar measurements, solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies. This may includes: optimum day-lighting measurements, solar angle determinations, concentrating solar power technologies for process heat and power generation, physics of Silicon based technologies, thin film technologies, excitonic solar cells, deployment, economics and environmental impact. The module is designed to motivate and enable students to choose technologist, designer or consultant roles in the field of solar energy sectors in general.

Prerequisite and corequisite modules:

A student needs to have completed first 3 years (or equivalent) on the undergraduate BSc renewable energy degree programme in order to be able to take this module.

The module will not be suitable for non-specialist students.

The module is not recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.

 

AIMS - intentions of the module

In this module, students obtain specific understanding of solar resource, physics and engineering of solar energy system. Students develop an advanced understanding of design, limitation and implementation of Solar Energy Devices focusing on: (i) advanced knowledge and modelling of solar energy resource analysis, (ii) physics and limitation of different photovoltaic technologies, (iii) engineering and utilisation of solar thermal devices, (iv) large scale design of solar PV and Thermal power plants, (iv) risk and mitigation management and (v) characterisation techniques of PV devices. In achieving this level of capability, students will develop competence for independent solar energy research, design of new solar PV/Thermal farms, and dealing with operational challenges for solar power plants around the globe. In addition students will learn to use state-of-the-art computational design/modelling tool routinely used in the industry.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. A complete knowledge on both solar thermal and solar PV technologies and the start of the art research developments in UK and elsewhere; and

2. have acquired, and be able to apply scientific and mathematical methods, and knowledge of precedent practice, in the design and project development processes for solar energy projects;

3. have detailed knowledge and understanding of engineering components, materials and processes such that, by working autonomously, you can select and rate solar technologies to match the demands of particular user profiles, and select balance-of-plant items that maximise the solar energy harvested under cost constraints;

4. appreciate the life cycle, carbon and energy balances for solar technologies and have an understanding of the contribution solar technologies can make to addressing climate change;

5. appreciate the variety and limits of their use of solar energy technologies within different societies (especially developing countries) and the factors which have shaped this use.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

6. you can analyse new and/or abstract data and situations scientifically, without guidance, using the range of techniques covered in the syllabus plan;

7. that, with minimum guidance, you can transform abstract data and concepts towards a given purpose and can produce designs that are potentially innovative;

8. you can make valid, non-trivial, observations on the operational performance and the technical and commercial risk of renewable energy projects with confidence and minimum supervision or guidance;

9. you can critically review observations of the condition and performance of renewable energy developments including commenting on the reliability of equipment, and validity and significance of data and methods;

10. you can investigate contradictory information in such data or methods and identify reasons for contradictions, and identify possible measures to improve this situation;

11. you can choose an appropriate observation or design method from the complete repertoire of observation and design methods covered within the syllabus plan and are confident in evaluating own and others performance in doing so.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

12. autonomy in planning and managing resources that support the syllabus plan and can reflect on the efficiency of use of these resources;

13. that you can conduct and present / report calculations, to a deadline, with awareness of professional codes of conduct and can incorporate an ethical dimension and/or exercise personal judgement into/on their work;

14. that you can recognise differing roles within a team and the ability to assume many of these roles (including, possibly, leadership) depending on circumstances.

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
  1. Physics of solar materials
    1. Introduction to all leading materials for PV and solar thermal technologies
    2. Semiconductor Physics of materials
    3. Materials for solar thermal systems
  1. Solar PV technologies
    1. Si based technologies
    2. Thin film technologies
    3. Excitonic solar cells – Organic and Hybrid
    4. New emerging materials for solar cells
    5. High efficiency solar cells
    6. Flat plate concentrators
    7. Solar Fuels
  1. Solar thermal
    1. Flat plate concentrators, evacuvated tubes
    2. Concentrating solar power
      1. Parabolic trough
      2. Dish
      3. Fresnel reflectors
      4. Heliostat
      5. CSP, Engines and thermodynamics
      6. Solar thermal process engineering
  1. Grid connected and stand-alone PV systems
    1. Building integrated PV
    2. LCEA/LCA
    3. Characterisation of solar cells and Modules
  1. Experimentation and Characterisations

 

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 40 Guided Independent Study 110 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 40 Lectures, tutorails and laboratory experiements
Guided Independent Study 110 Private Study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Not applicable.      
       
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
PV module making (Both Experimental and Report Submission) 40 3500 words + maps, drawings, diagrams etc 3-6, 9, 10, 12-14 Written
Solar Thermal Powerplant design exercise 60 2500 words + maps, drawings, diagrams etc 3-6, 9, 10, 12-14 Written

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Summative assessment Additional assessment As above Aug Ref/Def period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

As above 1 piece of CW 100%

 

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

Boyle, G. (ed) Renewable Energy, Chapters 2 & 3, Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978 0 199545339Scheer, Herman. The Solar Economy  Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Global Future, Earthscan, London, ISBN: 1844070751, Shelve Number: 333.794 SCH                       

Luque, Antonio (ed). Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Chichester, Wiley, 2003, ISBN: 0471491969. Shelve Number: 621.31244 LUQ                              

Martin, C.L., Solar Energy Pocket Reference, Earthscan, 2006, ISBN: 1844073068                                                                                              

Ecofys, Planning and Installing Photovoltaic Systems: A Guide for Installers, Architects and Engineers, Earthscan, London, 2005, ISBN: 1844071316, Shelve Number: 697.78 PLA

Ecofys, Planning and Installing Solar Thermal Systems: A Guide for Installers, Architects and Engineers, Earthscan, London, 2005, ISBN: 1844071251, Shelve Number: 697.78 PLA

Messenger, R.A. and Ventre J. Photovoltaic Systems Engineering, CRC Press, Boca Raton FL, ISBN: 0849317932, Shelve Number: 621.31244 MES                                    

Porteous, C. with MacGregor, K., Solar architecture in Cool Climates, ISBN: 190291662X, Shelve Number: 728.370472                                                           

Thomas, R., Photovoltaics and Architecture, Spon Press, London, ISBN: 0415231825, Shelve Number: 720.472                                                                    

Research Journal: Solar Energy, Applied Energy, Progress in Photovoltaics, Renewable Energy, Applied Thermal Engineering

 

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/ - CSM3371 ELE page

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

 

Other Resources:

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Scheer, H. A Solar Manifesto James & James 2004 1 902916 24 7
Set Boyle, G. Renewable Energy Oxford University Press 2012 0199261784
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES CSM3371
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 7 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Thursday 6th July 2017 LAST REVISION DATE Friday 22nd May 2020
KEY WORDS SEARCH Photovoltaic systems; PV systems; solar radiation; solar energy; solar thermal systems.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.