Renewable Energy MSc

• Professor Chris Sansom

An understanding of the principles of renewable energy technologies is key to assimilate the technological basis of the systems and applications. The module provides the fundamentals of the renewable energy technologies and their impact on global and national energy system. The purpose of this module is to introduce the basis for assessment of the performances of solar, wind, wave and tidal, geothermal as well as hydro-electricity technologies.  By the end of the module, you will have a better understanding of the various renewable technologies and will have the opportunity to visit a PV solar plant to see the real dimension of an operational plant. 

• Photovoltaic technology,
• Concentrated solar power technology,
• Onshore and offshore wind energy: fundamentals of wind turbines and placement,
• Geothermal Systems (including ground-source heat pumps),
• Wave and tidal energy technologies,
• Hydro-electricity.

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

1. Identify the different components and main configuration of the different renewable technologies covered in the module,
2. Articulate the fundamental principles, terminology and key issues related to the most used renewable energy technologies,
3. Critically compare the challenges for the development and operation of the major technologies, including government regulation and policy,
4. Identify gaps in the knowledge and discuss potential opportunities for further development, including technology and economic potential.

• Dr Jerry Luo

This module provides detailed knowledge in energy storage, bioenergy, energy harvesting and energy distribution. This module also provides you with knowledge and experience in designing and analysing renewable energy infrastructures in power generation, energy storage, distribution and corresponding renewable energy applications.

Energy storage materials and technologies

• Electrochemical and battery energy storage,
• Thermal energy storage,
• Medium to large scale energy storage,
• Hydrogen storage.

Bioenergies

• Biorefinery,
• Biofuels,
• AD technology,
• Energy from biomass and waste.

Energy distribution

• Smart grid and micro-grid (technical),
• Smart grid and micro-grid (socio-economic),
• Smart grid for electric vehicles.

Energy harvesting

• Energy harvesting technologies,
• Internet of things (IoT) and energy harvesting for smart energy systems.

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

• Critically evaluate the key benefits and challenges of energy storage, bioenergy, energy harvesting and distribution networks in renewable energy,
• Identify the appropriate energy storage and distribution methods for different types of renewable energy systems,
• Analyse the main configurations and components in power generation, energy storage and distribution networks for renewable energy systems,
• Justify the importance of materials, control, integration and information management issues in renewable energy,
• Appraise future technology and socio-economic trends in sustainability and assess associated opportunities and challenges.

This module brings together theoretical and computational stress analysis through finite element simulations, allowing you to appreciate how the two disciplines interact in practice and what their strengths and limitations are. The examination of finite element analysis (FEA) for various practical applications (e.g. engineering components, composite structures, rotating disks, cracked geometries) in conjunction with relevant case studies will allow you to combine theoretical understanding with practical experience, to develop your skills to model and analyse complex engineering problems.

• Stress Analysis: introduction to stress analysis of components and structures, ductile and brittle materials, tensile data analysis, material properties, isotropic/kinematic hardening, dynamic strain aging, complex stress and strain, stress and strain transformation, principal stresses, maximum shear stress, Mohr’s circle, constitutive stress-strain equations, fracture and yield criteria, constraint and triaxiality effects, plane stress and plane strain conditions, thin walled cylinder theory, thick walled cylinder theory (Lame equations), compound cylinders, plastic deformation of cylinders, introduction to computational stress analysis,
• Finite Element Analysis: introduction to FEA, types of elements, integration points, meshing, mesh convergence, visualisation, results interpretation, beam structures under static and dynamic loading, stress concentration in steel and composite plates, tubular assemblies, 2D and 3D modelling of solid structures, axisymmetry and symmetry boundary conditions, CS1: Stress and strain variation in a pressure vessel subjected to different loading conditions, CS2: Prediction and validation of the stress and strain fields ahead of the crack tip. (case studies are indicative).

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

• Develop a strong foundation on stress analysis and demonstrate the ability to analyse a range of structural problems,
• Explain the fundamentals of Finite Element Analysis, be able to evaluate methodologies applied to the analysis of structural members (beams, plates, shells, struts), and critically evaluate the applicability and limitations of the methods and the ability to make use of original thought and judgement when approaching structural analysis,
• Provide an in-depth explanation of current practice through case studies of engineering problems,
• Use the most widely applied commercial finite element software package (ABAQUS) and some of its advanced functionalities,
• Evaluate the importance of mesh sensitivity in finite element simulations.

• Dr Peter King

This module provides detailed knowledge of solar energy generation systems, and their technical specifications. This module provides you with the knowledge and skills to design and critically evaluate solar energy generation systems. An overview of the current state of the art of R&D and the future of solar energy systems will be given. 

• PV system technologies and materials,
• PV field design,
• CSP collector technical specification and design,
• CSP cooling systems design,
• CSP power cycles and thermal storage,
• CSP plant design,
• CSP mirror durability and soiling,
• Water use within CSP plants, and its reduction,
• Software tools for system design and evaluation,
• Site selection and the socio-economic and environmental impacts,
• Current R&D activities and future trends.

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

• Critically evaluate the key technologies of solar PV and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP),
• Select appropriate solutions for the generation of energy using solar PV and CSP for various applications,
• Select and implement appropriate methods for the design of solar energy systems.

• Dr Stephanie Hussels

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.

• Entrepreneurial risk, performance and environment,
• Business planning techniques and their application in entrepreneurial ventures
• Venture strategy in dynamic markets
• Start-up and resources to exploit a profit opportunity
• The evolution of the venture and managing growth
• Protecting and securing intellectual capital: IPR and antitrust law
• Financial management for new ventures: financing a start-up 
• The entrepreneurial financing process: buying and selling a venture.

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

• Assess the impact of the business environment on entrepreneurial opportunity identification and exploitation.
• Critically apply the theoretical underpinning of entrepreneurship to the process of managing risk in new ventures and supporting their development.
• Compare and contrast how managerial challenges vary across the life cycle of an entrepreneurial venture.
• Assess the likely financial needs of a new venture and pitch for finance.
• Develop and write a credible business plan for a new venture.

• Dr Nazmiye Ozkan

The module aims to provide you with a deep understanding of the truly multidisciplinary nature of a real industrial project.  Using a relevant case study, the scientific and technical concepts learned during the previous modules will be brought together and used to execute the analysis of the case study.

• Work flow definition: setting up the single aspects to be considered, the logical order, and the interfaces.
• Design of an appropriate analysis toolkit specific to the case study
• Development of a management or maintenance framework for the case study
• Multi-criteria decision analysis [MDCA] applied to energy technologies to identify the best available technology. 
• Energy technologies and systems: understanding the development and scaling/design of the technologies by applying an understanding of the available resources in the assigned location;
• Public engagement strategies and the planning process involved in developing energy technologies.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Critically evaluate available technological options, and select the most appropriate method for determining the best available technology [BAT] for the specific case study.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a group to achieve the stated requirements of the module brief.
• Demonstrate the ability to organise the single-discipline activities in a logical workflow, and to define the interfaces between them, designing an overall multidisciplinary approach for the specific case study.

• Dr Liang Yang

This module aims to provide you with a theoretical and applied understanding of fluid mechanics and fluid loading on structures.

Principles of fluid dynamics:

• Properties of fluids: control volumes & fluid elements, continuity, momentum & energy equations, stream function & velocity potential, Bernoulli’s equation,
• Flow structures: boundary layer theory, laminar & turbulent flow, steady & unsteady flow, flow breakdown & separations, vortex formation & stability,
• Lifting flows: circulation theory, Prandtl’s lifting-line theory, sources of drag, aerofoil characteristics,
• Fluid loading on horizontal and vertical axis turbines.

Dynamics of floating bodies: from simple hydrostatics to complex dynamic response in waves.

• Hydrostatics of floating bodies; buoyancy forces and stability, initial stability, the wall sided formula and large angle stability, stability losses, the pressure integration technique,
• Fluid loading on offshore structures and ocean waves theory: the added mass concept, Froude Krylov force, linear wave theory, wave loading (diffraction theory & Morison equation),
• Dynamics response of floating structures in waves: dynamic response analysis, application to floating bodies (buoys, semisub, TLP), effect of moorings.

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

• Explain how wind, waves and tides are formed, factors that influence their distribution & predictability,
• Review the fundamental equations for fluid behaviour, characterisation of flow structures and forces and moments acting on lifting bodies,
• Evaluate and select the most appropriate model to assess and undertake the simulation of a floating structure static and dynamic stability.

• Dr Liang Yang

This module provides you with the ability to critically evaluate the structural components of renewable energy devices operating in challenging environments, such as offshore wind turbines. Advanced computational methods are used to assess the environmental loads acting on these structural components and of the contemporary methodologies and engineering design tools used for the prediction of these loads.

• Introduction to Design Processes: From a problem statement and interviews, gather sufficient detailed data to construct a functional specification against which to design a system,
• Engineering Design Development: Develop a preferred concept design using brainstorming techniques robust decision making and project management processes,
• Engineering Analysis: Submit the concept design to a rigorous investigation and analysis, choosing and using multiple engineering software’s, suitable to ensure that the design meets the specification previously developed,
• Practical sessions: As required by the challenge set, conduct appropriate tests and experiments to ensure that the design meets all elements of the specification.

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

• Develop design criteria and functional requirements for renewable energy structures,
• Develop and undertake design processes aligned with the design guidelines set by the professional engineering bodies,
• Utilise engineering equations conserving wave dynamics, hydrodynamics and fluid induced loads,
• Evaluate the importance and the limits of modern physical and numerical modelling approaches. To this end, an introduction is made to the operation of contemporary engineering software, for example, potential flow / diffraction theory and CFD / RANS.

• Professor Chris Sansom

An understanding of the principles of renewable energy technologies is key to assimilate the technological basis of the systems and applications. The module provides the fundamentals of the renewable energy technologies and their impact on global and national energy system. The purpose of this module is to introduce the basis for assessment of the performances of solar, wind, wave and tidal, geothermal as well as hydro-electricity technologies.  By the end of the module, you will have a better understanding of the various renewable technologies and will have the opportunity to visit a PV solar plant to see the real dimension of an operational plant. 

• Photovoltaic technology,
• Concentrated solar power technology,
• Onshore and offshore wind energy: fundamentals of wind turbines and placement,
• Geothermal Systems (including ground-source heat pumps),
• Wave and tidal energy technologies,
• Hydro-electricity.

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

1. Identify the different components and main configuration of the different renewable technologies covered in the module,
2. Articulate the fundamental principles, terminology and key issues related to the most used renewable energy technologies,
3. Critically compare the challenges for the development and operation of the major technologies, including government regulation and policy,
4. Identify gaps in the knowledge and discuss potential opportunities for further development, including technology and economic potential.

• Dr Jerry Luo

This module provides detailed knowledge in energy storage, bioenergy, energy harvesting and energy distribution. This module also provides you with knowledge and experience in designing and analysing renewable energy infrastructures in power generation, energy storage, distribution and corresponding renewable energy applications.

Energy storage materials and technologies

• Electrochemical and battery energy storage,
• Thermal energy storage,
• Medium to large scale energy storage,
• Hydrogen storage.

Bioenergies

• Biorefinery,
• Biofuels,
• AD technology,
• Energy from biomass and waste.

Energy distribution

• Smart grid and micro-grid (technical),
• Smart grid and micro-grid (socio-economic),
• Smart grid for electric vehicles.

Energy harvesting

• Energy harvesting technologies,
• Internet of things (IoT) and energy harvesting for smart energy systems.

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

• Critically evaluate the key benefits and challenges of energy storage, bioenergy, energy harvesting and distribution networks in renewable energy,
• Identify the appropriate energy storage and distribution methods for different types of renewable energy systems,
• Analyse the main configurations and components in power generation, energy storage and distribution networks for renewable energy systems,
• Justify the importance of materials, control, integration and information management issues in renewable energy,
• Appraise future technology and socio-economic trends in sustainability and assess associated opportunities and challenges.

• Dr Gill Drew

This module will provide you with experience of scoping and designing a research project.  This requires a thorough understanding of the background literature, as well as qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. The module provides sessions on project scoping and planning, including project risk management and resource allocation.  A key part of this module is the consideration of ethics, professional conduct and the role of an engineer within the wider industry context.

Research methods:

• Literature reviews,
• Qualitative analysis methods (surveys, SWOT, PESTLE),
• Quantitative analysis methods (hypothesis testing, statistics and regression.

Project management:

• Project scoping and definition,
• Project planning,
• Project risk assessment and mitigation,
• Resource planning and allocation.

Ethics and the role of the engineer:

• Expert witness case study

Professional code of conduct (in line with the code of conduct defined by the Engineering Council, IMechE, IChemE and Energy Institute).  

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

• Undertake a systematic literature review in order to identify the key gaps in knowledge for a particular research topic,
• Design a data analysis method appropriate to their chosen research topic (either quantitative or qualitative),
• Design and scope a research project, including identification of research methods, resources required and risk management approaches,
• Evaluate ethical dilemmas and the role of the engineer within the context of their chosen industry.

• Dr Stephanie Hussels

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.

• Entrepreneurial risk, performance and environment,
• Business planning techniques and their application in entrepreneurial ventures
• Venture strategy in dynamic markets
• Start-up and resources to exploit a profit opportunity
• The evolution of the venture and managing growth
• Protecting and securing intellectual capital: IPR and antitrust law
• Financial management for new ventures: financing a start-up 
• The entrepreneurial financing process: buying and selling a venture.

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

• Assess the impact of the business environment on entrepreneurial opportunity identification and exploitation.
• Critically apply the theoretical underpinning of entrepreneurship to the process of managing risk in new ventures and supporting their development.
• Compare and contrast how managerial challenges vary across the life cycle of an entrepreneurial venture.
• Assess the likely financial needs of a new venture and pitch for finance.
• Develop and write a credible business plan for a new venture.

• Dr Nazmiye Ozkan

The module aims to provide you with a deep understanding of the truly multidisciplinary nature of a real industrial project.  Using a relevant case study, the scientific and technical concepts learned during the previous modules will be brought together and used to execute the analysis of the case study.

• Work flow definition: setting up the single aspects to be considered, the logical order, and the interfaces.
• Design of an appropriate analysis toolkit specific to the case study
• Development of a management or maintenance framework for the case study
• Multi-criteria decision analysis [MDCA] applied to energy technologies to identify the best available technology. 
• Energy technologies and systems: understanding the development and scaling/design of the technologies by applying an understanding of the available resources in the assigned location;
• Public engagement strategies and the planning process involved in developing energy technologies.

On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:

• Critically evaluate available technological options, and select the most appropriate method for determining the best available technology [BAT] for the specific case study.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a group to achieve the stated requirements of the module brief.
• Demonstrate the ability to organise the single-discipline activities in a logical workflow, and to define the interfaces between them, designing an overall multidisciplinary approach for the specific case study.

• Dr Nazmiye Ozkan

In the context of rising household energy demands, concerns for energy security, threat of climate change, and uncertainties in the price of energy (the so-called ‘energy trilemma’) require transformation of the ways in which energy is produced, delivered and consumed. Both for the developed and developing economies challenges stem from meeting increasing electricity demands from more intermittent renewable resources. This module covers a variety of theoretical and empirical topics related to energy demand, energy supply, energy prices, renewable vs depletable resources and environmental consequences of energy consumption and production, all from an economic perspective. It will demonstrate how key economic principles are used in various energy-environment models to inform energy and climate policy.

• Key concepts and main approaches in economic analysis of energy systems,
• Different approaches to economic modelling of energy and environment interactions,
• Energy efficiency and renewable energy policies,
• Regulation and governance,
• Energy policy theory and practice,
• Economics of energy and ancillary services market.

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

• Critically evaluate the purpose of energy policy, as well as the range of policy strategies and instruments.
• Explain how economic principles govern energy markets and the economics of energy supply.
• Evaluate the approaches for energy market regulation.
• Critically evaluate different approaches for the modelling of energy and environment interactions.
• Identify and evaluate the key issues facing the energy sector (i.e. smart technologies, energy security).

• Dr Gill Drew

Health, safety, sustainability and the environment are all key considerations when working in the offshore and renewable energy sectors. These four topics are also broad and cover many aspects. This module is designed to provide you with the competencies to assess and evaluate the relevant international standards relating to these four topics, as well as the legislation and regulatory requirements. There is a strong focus on the use of case studies to provide examples of how standards and legislation are implemented in practice.

• Introduction to the International Standards associated with HSSE, including the ISO 14000 family and ISO 45001
• Environmental legislation and voluntary standards,
• Environmental impacts and prevention, including climate change,
• Occupational health and safety legislation and duty of care,
• Human reliability analysis and accident causation: Major accident sequences, risk perception and control of risk human reliability assessment tools.
• Review of major offshore accidents, such as the Oroville Dam collapse, Piper Alpha disaster and the Deepwater Horizon incident,
• Decomissioning and waste management at end of life.

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

• Critique the ISO standards relevant to occupational health, safety and the environment, within the context of offshore and renewable energy.
• Differentiate between voluntary requirements and legal or regulatory requirements for health and safety, and the environment.
• Evaluate the likely environmental impacts resulting from offshore and renewable energy industries.
• Design an appropriate health and safety policy for a particular offshore environment or renewable energy technology.

• Dr Gill Drew

Environmental impact assessment and life cycle analysis are important tools for evaluation of complex renewable energy technologies and chemical processes. The tools and concepts taught in this module will enable you to assess the sustainability of a case study from an environmental standpoint. Tools such environmental impact assessment and life cycle assessment (LCA) are widely applied in the industry to ensure sustainability of their assets over their lifetime. This module aims to introduce you to the modern techniques for environmental assessment. It comprises several hands-on case studies that enable you to develop relevant competencies via hands-on experience. You will also work on a relevant case study that will take you through the entire process assessment process. You will also learn how to account for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.  

• Sustainability and business models,
• Net-zero technologies for sustainable development:
  • CO2 emissions and decarbonisation of transport, power and industrial processes,
  • Acid gases (SO2 and NOX) formation and reduction of their emissions,
  • Particulate matter emissions and control,
  • Waste management,
• Life cycle analysis, carbon footprinting and environmental impact assessment. 
 

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

• Critically assess the emissions and waste production throughout the lifecycle of a technology or process,
• Apply a quality framework to ensure compliance of the design to regulatory and voluntary requirements,
• Critically evaluate different environmental appraisal metrics,
• Design and implement a strategy to assess the environmental sustainability of a process or technology, and evaluate the associated uncertainties.