Study information

Renewable Energy Systems 1 - 2021 entry

MODULE TITLERenewable Energy Systems 1 CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODECSM1032 MODULE CONVENERProf Adam Feldman (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 40
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
Renewable Energy Systems One is an introductory module for understanding the sciences, engineering and deployment of ‘renewable energy’.
It begins with scientific definition of ‘energy’, and a definition of ‘renewable energy’.
The module sets-out briefly the historical overview of the energy landscape, before focusing onto the seven main sources of renewable energy. Solar, wind, wave, hydro, biomass, tidal and geothermal energy.
For each of the seven sources of renewable energy, the scale and magnitude of the resource are considered, and the variety of technologies available to harvest and employ that energy resource are examined at an introductory level.
The module is suitable for anyone who has a good basic understanding of general physics and maths.
AIMS - intentions of the module
An introductory course examining concepts of renewable energy; its sources and deployment.
 
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
 
On successfully completing the module, you will be able to…
 
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 Explain and define the concept of energy and renewable energy.
2 Estimate and discuss the magnitude of resource available for each of the seven main renewable energy sources – Solar, wind, wave, hydro, biomass, tidal and geothermal.
3 Explain the range of engineering technologies available to harvest and employ each source of renewable energy.
 
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
4 Implement mathematical, scientific and engineering ideas to form a justified and rigorous solution.
5 Assess practical limitations of such solutions.
6 Compare and contrast competing technologies.
7 Link technical and research findings to actual applied practice.
 
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
8 Learn independently and cooperatively.
9 Communicate ideas effectively by written and oral means.
10 Review and appraise academic and research literature.
11 Analyze laboratory data. 
 
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
- An introduction to the module. Defining energy, renewable energy and the seven available sources of renewable energy.
- How ‘power’ differs from energy, and an appreciation of the scale of power
- An explanation of tasks to be achieved in the module – including formative and summative assignments.
- A brief introduction to the growth of human energy use within the industrial era, including the growth of the fossil fuels, nuclear energy, the electrical grid, environmental problems.
- Solar energy. Magnitude of solar resource. Solar thermal energy, passive and active solar heating, solar concentration. Solar photovoltaics, basic PV science, PV technologies and electrical characteristics.
- Wind energy. Source of wind. Scale of wind. Basic aerodynamics, lift and drag. Fundamental wind power equation. Introduction to wind turbines, rival design concepts, commercial deployment.
- Wave energy. Source of waves. Scale of wave resource. Fundamental wave power equations; onshore and off-shore wave energy extraction systems.
- Hydro energy. Magnitude of hydro resource. Hydro-electricity and the hydro power-equations. Variety of hydro-turbines, large and small scale systems, pumped storage.
- Biomass energy. Sources of biomass, photosynthesis. Magnitude of resource. Varieties of biomass fuel. Combustion, gasification, pyrolysis. Fermentation, anaerobic digestion. Esterification and bio-diesel.
- Tidal energy. Origin and magnitude. Tidal-range versus tidal-stream. Technologies to harness tidal range and stream; the pros and cons and environmental factors.
- Geothermal energy. Source of geothermal energy. Magnitude of resource. Classical aquifer geothermal energy. Hot-dry-rock or ‘enhanced’ geothermal energy. Geothermal ground-source heat pumps.
- Laboratory introduction to energy conversion and energy storage. Light-energy converted to electrical energy, to hydrogen chemical energy for storage, back to electrical energy. 
- Calculation of efficiency of a small PV panel and of a PEM (proton-exchange-membrane) electrolyser and PEM fuel-cell.
- Communicating renewable energy – via short written report, and a short oral presentation, on a renewable-energy subject of personal choice.
 
LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 44 Guided Independent Study 106 Placement / Study Abroad
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20 Lecture videos and pre-prepared material.
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 20 Seminars and discussion.
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 4 Laboratory sessions
Guided independent study 106 Guided reading, personal study, assignment preparation

 

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
Seminar questions and debate.   All 1 to 11  
Seminar calculations and worked answers.   ILOs 2, 4 & 7  
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 50 Written Exams 50 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Exam 50 2 hours 1 to 7 & 9 Pre-exam practice of questions. Tutorial meeting.
Writing up lab experiment  20 1,500 word equivalent All 1 to 11 Written individual feedback sheet.
Mini-project report 30 2,000 word equivalent + short oral presentation ILOs 1 to 10 Written individual feedback
         
         

 

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-reassessment
The written assignments – report and lab An additional written assessment All 1 to 11 August Ref/Def period
Examination An additional 2-hour examination 1 to 7 and 9 August Ref/Def period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

If a student is referred or deferred, the failed / non-completed component(s) will be re-assessed at the same weighting as the original assessment.

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
Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) – module CSM1032 Renewable Energy Systems 1 web-page.
 
Lecture materials – notes and pre-recorded mini-lectures.
Links to chosen texts, journal articles, web pages, expert institutions, media programmes and videos to support and extensively explore the subject material.

Details of the course assignments, tasks and assessments.                                                                          

Reading list for this module:

There are currently no reading list entries found for this module.

CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 4 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Thursday 2nd September 2021
KEY WORDS SEARCH Energy; renewable-energy; energy-resource assessment; energy technologies

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