Study information

Marine Renewable Energy - 2021 entry

MODULE TITLEMarine Renewable Energy CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEENE3003 MODULE CONVENERDr Helen Smith (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 10 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 20
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
Marine Renewable Energy is an advanced module covering marine (primarily wave and tidal) energy. The module aims initially to equip you with the knowledge and skills to   perform resource assessment studies for these industries and to analyse and interpret data acquired for such studies. It includes a practical tutorial on the industry- standard wave modelling software SWAN, and development of programming and analysis skills using Matlab. It will also give you an understanding of the wider industries, including technical developments, operational aspects and environmental impacts and the policy context.
 
This is a specialist module that requires a good level of mathematical and computational ability, and is not recommended for interdisciplinary pathways. Prerequisite module: CSM1032 or equivalent.
AIMS - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to provide you with a broad understanding of the technical, operational and environmental aspects of the wave and tidal energy industries. It has an initial focus on resource assessment, with the aim of equipping you with the ability to calculate the available power at a site from raw data, and to perform, analyse and interpret resource assessment studies with direct relevance to device operation. It will then introduce you to wider operational aspects including offshore operations, environmental consenting and impacts, and ongoing challenges facing 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 Produce analysis of the wave power resource at a proposed wave project location using measured data using Matlab;

2 Understand the harmonic theory of tides, and have an ability to synthesise time series of tidal height and tidal current data for resource assessment purposes;

3 Understand the use and operation of marine data management instruments to conduct a marine energy resource assessment;

4 Display basic competence in the use of the nearshore wave modelling software SWAN for wave propagation and resource assessment;

5 Grasp power conversion principles, devices and technology used to harness wave and tidal energy, and issues relating to device operation and the production of power. 

6 Understand the development of marine energy as an industry, including the pathway and pace of the development of the technology, with appreciation of the challenges at each stage.


Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

7 Apply mathematical and statistical methods (in software or otherwise) for resource assessment calculations;

8 Critically evaluate scientific knowledge and apply it to the engineering context.


Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

9 Demonstrate sufficient time planning and management skills to produce a report requiring a diverse application of knowledge and skills;

10 Synthesise data from a range of sources and draw appropriate conclusions.

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
- Review of Year 1/2 material: wave and tidal energy;
 
- Wave resource assessment: linear wave theory, wave spectra, calculation of parameters from spectra, wave measurement;
- Use of Matlab for resource data analysis;
- Wave and tidal measurement instrumentation;
- Hydrodynamics, wave forces on submerged bodies, energy transfer and conversion principles;
- Wave modelling: history of wave models, the SWAN model, practical session using SWAN;
- Wave energy industry: history of the industry, device types, device development, test site development;
 
- Tidal resource assessment: origin of the tides, harmonic tidal theory, shallow water effects, tidal measurement;
 
- Tidal energy industry: history of the industry, device types, device development, test site development;
 
- Marine energy operations: introduction to operational issues – moorings, deployment, weather windows, reliability;
 
- Marine energy policy: UK and international policy, technology development pathway, funding initiatives, project development, environmental impacts and consenting;
 
- Additional offshore technologies including floating wind, ocean thermal energy conversion and salinity gradient.
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

 

Lecturer led programme of lectures, with invited lectures from industry experts

 

 

24

 

 

See syllabus plan

 

Practical sessions:

Wave modelling with SWAN

Flume-based practical

 

10

 

 

 

 

A series of exercises to familiarise candidates with the use of the SWAN wave model.

Experimental design and implementation using the flume tank.

 

 

Tutorial and workshops:

Resource analysis with Matlab

6

 

 

 

Self-paced sessions where staff are on hand to support students working independently on resource assessment and interpretation tasks.

 

 

 

Guided Independent Study

 

110

 

 

 

 

 

 

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
Worksheets on wave and tidal calculations to consolidate material covered in lectures. Four hours 1,2,3,6 Exercises will be reviewed and discussed in tutorial sessions.
       
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
In class test on data analysis and interpretation 20 50 minutes 1, 5, 8, 10 Written feedback, and follow-up tutorial
Group project management report on a marine data collection campaign 30 1800 word equivalent per student 3, 9 Verbal feedback and peer review to group, individual written feedback
Report on site selection for a marine energy development 50 3000 word equivalent 1, 2, 4, 6-10 Individual written, plus group feedback covering general issues
         
         

 

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
Three separate assessments: test, group report, individual report   Referred and deferred assignments will mirror the original modes of assessment, with the group report replaced by an individual report covering similar material 1, 2, 4, 6-10 August Ref/Def period
       
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Referred and deferred assignments will mirror the original modes of 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

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk


 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Bhattacharyya, R., McCormick, M.E. Wave Energy Conversion Elsevier 2003 0080442129
Set Boyle, G. Renewable Energy Oxford University Press 2012 0199261784
Set Cruz, J. Ocean Wave Energy: Current Status and Future Perspectives Springer 2008 978-3-540-74894-6
Set Holthuijsen, L.H. Waves in Oceanic and Coastal Waters Cambridge University Press 2007 978-0-521-86028-4
Set Ingram, D.M., Smith, G.H., Bittencourt Ferreira, C., Smith, H Protocols for the Equitable Assessment of Marine Energy Converters University of Edinburgh 2011 978-0-9508920-2-3
Set Kolliatsas, C Offshore renewable energy : accelerating the deployment of offshore wind, tidal and wave technologies Earthscan 2012 9781849714709
Set Lynn, P.A. Electricity from wave and tide : an introduction to marine energy Wiley 2014 9781118340912
Set Multon, B. Marine renewable energy handbook Wiley 2012 9781848213326
Set Open University Waves, Tides and Shallow water processes Butterworth Heinemann 1999 978-750642811
Set Tavner, P.J. Offshore wind turbines : reliability, availability and maintenance IET 2012 9781849192293
Set Tucker, M.J. and Pitt, E.G. Waves in Ocean Engineering Elsevier 2001 978-0080435664.
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES CSM1032
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 6 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Wednesday 11th January 2017 LAST REVISION DATE Tuesday 2nd February 2021
KEY WORDS SEARCH Wave power; tidal power; marine energy; offshore energy.

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