Brian Meredith Net Zero Scholarships
Energy and Sustainability Net Zero Scholarships
The digital energy landscape is fast changing - capitalise your career prospects in this exciting field with the Advanced Digital Energy Systems MSc
Energy supply is fundamentally important to our homes and workplaces. Future energy supply has to be affordable, sustainable, stable and secure, which makes energy systems a complex problem. digital energy systems is an emerging discipline using powerful digital tools and various digital models to solve and manage the increasingly complex modern energy systems. Within this discipline, digital tools and models (such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology) are used to analyse data from different energy systems and sources and drive new control and operational strategies and business models, whilst supporting key objectives such as reaching Net Zero emissions.Overview
- Start dateFull-time: October. Part-time: October
- DurationOne year full-time, two-three years part-time
- DeliveryTaught modules 40%, group project 20% (or dissertation for part-time students), and individual project 40%.
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- Study typeFull-time / Part-time
- CampusCranfield campus
Who is it for?
This course is suitable for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Information Technology and Energy graduates and practicing IT or Energy engineers wishing to pursue a technical management career in the rapidly growing digital energy sector. It develops professional engineers and scientists with the multidisciplinary skills and ability to analyse current and future energy engineering challenges.
My group project was actually with an industry, one of the leading industries in the renewable energy investment sector. So we worked with them as a consultant – so it was like working in industry, not just purely academic.
Data and data skills are really important to the energy sector as it's developing and transitioning. AI and blockchain technologies are really important to that transition but it's really important that we have the right skills and the technologies to process that data and use it accordingly.
AI blockchain in the energy sector is about that user experience. It's about taking that user centric design, place for place and understanding how we can shift that mass market and then how we can guarantee the experience that is a commercially viable for that organisation and doesn't degrade the experience that they currently have with a centralised generation system.
I think energy is one of our key challenges we face as a society. If we don't address the energy challenge, if we don't decarbonise our energy systems which make up a big chunk of our CO2 production, at the moment all else probably won't matter. Why AI and blockchain? Because I think they are two of the key technologies which are going to help us address those now there are lots of other technologies as well there are things like the Internet of Things. I think there's still a lot of work to be done on other social sciences and psychology of how to change people's behaviour because ultimately all of these technologies only make a difference if people decide to use them if people act on the advice – for example, given by an AI system – if people trust to hand over the controls to an automated system.
Your career
The international nature of this growing field allows Cranfield graduates to develop diverse and rewarding global careers in industry, government or research.
Example careers:
- Energy Analyst – data science,
- Offshore Energy Analyst,
- Energy and Sustainability Analyst,
- Research Analyst - Energy.
Cranfield Careers and Employability Service
Cranfield’s Careers and Employability Service is dedicated to helping you meet your career aspirations. You will have access to career coaching and advice, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs via our Symplicity platform and opportunities to meet recruiting employers at our careers fairs. We will also work with you to identify suitable opportunities and support you in the job application process for up to three years after graduation.
Why this course?
Developed economies now face a number of challenges in procuring energy security and responding to energy pricing and affordability issues, as well as contributing to reducing carbon emissions such as the UK Government’s ambitious targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to close to zero in the power sector by 2050.
You will benefit from dedicated state-of-the-art facilities including unique engineering-scale facilities for the development of efficient technologies with low CO2 emissions. In addition to management, communication, team work and research skills, each student will attain at least the following learning outcomes from this degree course:
- Design an appropriate data acquisition system for energy related processes,
- Critically analyse industrial data collected from different energy systems,
- Develop systematic strategies using a range of software for energy systems modelling, optimisation and control to resolve the technical issues involved in the design and operation of industrial energy systems.
Informed by Industry
We have a world class reputation for our industrial-scale research and pilot-scale demonstration programmes in the energy sector. Close engagement with the energy and transport sectors over the last 20 years has produced long-standing strategic partnerships with the sectors’ most prominent players. The strategic links with industry ensures that all of the material taught on the course is relevant, timely and meets the needs of organisations operating within the energy sector. This industry-led education makes our graduates some of the most desirable in the world for energy companies to recruit.
Course details
The taught programme for the Advanced Digital Energy Systems masters is generally delivered from October to February and is comprised of eight modules. Each of the first five modules are delivered over two weeks. Generally the first week involves intensive teaching while the second week has fewer teaching hours to allow time for more independent learning and completion of the assessment.
Students on the part-time programme will complete all of the modules based on a flexible schedule that will be agreed with the course director.
Course delivery
Taught modules 40%, group project 20% (or dissertation for part-time students), and individual project 40%.
Group project
The group project is an applied, multidisciplinary, team-based activity. Often solving real-world, industry-based problems, you are provided with the opportunity to take responsibility for a consultancy-type project while working under academic supervision. Success is dependent on the integration of various activities and working within agreed objectives, deadlines and budgets. Transferable skills such as team work, self-reflection and clear communication are also developed.
Individual project
The individual project is the chance for you to focus on an area of particular interest to you and your future career. You will select the individual project in consultation with the Thesis Co-ordinator, your allocated supervisor and your Course Director. These projects provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to carry out independent research, think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge, and overcome genuine challenges in the energy industry. Many of the projects are supported by external organisations.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Course modules
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course.
Renewable Energy Technologies 1
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Renewable Energy Technologies 2
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Energy storage materials and technologies Bioenergies Energy distribution Energy harvesting |
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Cybersecurity for Energy Systems
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Data Analytics for Energy Systems
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Artificial Intelligence for Energy Systems
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Systems Case Studies
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On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Applications of Blockchain Technology
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This module aims to provide you with data analytical skills to evaluate the advantages of application of Blockchain technology and state-of-the-art of the applications of Blockchain technology in the energy sector. In addition, you will learn essential computer coding skills for writing a private Blockchain network to be potentially used in the energy industry. The scientific and technical concepts of Blockchain technologies and examples of their applications in the energy sector will be taught in this module. The existing challenges in digital energy systems and potential areas of applying Blockchain and its advantages / disadvantages will be discussed in group sessions. A 2-day lab session for simulations will be carried out to allow you to have practical experience and skills for creating a private Blockchain network. |
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Entrepreneurship
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In this world of downsizing, restructuring and technological change, notions of traditional careers and ways of creating value have all been challenged. People are depending more upon their own initiative to realise success. Never, it seems, have more people been starting their own companies than now, particularly to exploit the World Wide Web. There’s no single Government (in either the developed or the developing world), which is not paying at least lip service to enterprise development. The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge and skills relevant for starting and managing new ventures across the entrepreneurial life cycle. Moreover, it will prepare you on how to prepare a business pitch to an investor. |
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On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Teaching team
You will be taught by industry-active research academics from Cranfield with an established track record, supported by visiting lecturers from industry. Dr Da Huo is the Admissions Tutor and Dr Chao Long is the Course Director.
How to apply
Applications need to be made online. Click the 'Apply now' button at the top of this page.
Once you have set up an account you will be able to create, save and amend your application form before submitting it.