Renewable Energy MSc

• Dr Sagar Jain

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 (both PV and CSP), 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 technology and systems.

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 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.

Energy distribution

• Smart grid and micro-grid,
• Smart grid for case study
• Machine learning in energy.

Energy harvesting

• Energy harvesting technologies,
• Case Study.

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 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 energy storage and distribution 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 Luofeng Huang

This module brings together theories and computational practicalities of Finite Element Analysis (FEA). This combination enables you to use FEA for modern engineering purposes, whilst understand the underlying mechanics. You will be provided with step-by-step ABAQUS tutorials to get familiar with basic and advanced functionalities of this finite element software package. The lectures and hands-on practice will help you to develop strong FEA skills such as investigating the stress and strain distribution in complex geometries, components, and structures. 

Theory

Introduction to stress analysis of components and structures, Ductile and brittle materials, Tensile test, Material properties, Complex stress and strain, Stress and strain transformation, Fracture and yield criteria, Plastic deformation, Introduction to Computer-Aided Engineering, FEA methodology, FEA procedure. Fluid-structure interactions.  

Simulation

Introduction to ABAQUS, 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, Stress and strain analyses subjected to different loading conditions, Prediction and validation of the stress and strain fields ahead of the crack tip. 

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,
• Define the strength and limitation of different functions within FEA and demonstrate original thinking and judgement to establish a suitable model when approaching a certain problem,
• Evaluate the importance of mesh sensitivity analysis and validation in finite element simulations,
• Apply an in-depth awareness of current practice through case studies of engineering problems,
• Apply advanced skills in using ABAQUS, which will be an asset in both industrial and academic careers. 

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

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

• Ocean Waves Theory and Fluid loading on fixed offshore structures: The Added Mass Concept, Froude Krylov Force, Linear wave theory, Wave loading (Diffraction Theory & Morison Equation),
• Hydrostatics of floating structures; Buoyancy Forces and Stability, Initial stability, The wall sided formula and large angle stability, Stability losses, The Pressure Integration Technique,
• Dynamics response of floating structures in waves: dynamic response analysis, application to floating bodies, 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.

• Dr Orsolya Ihasz

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.

• Professor 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 most preferred technology for the specific case study.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a group to achieve the stated requirements of the module brief.
• 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 Patrick Verdin

The purpose of this module is to provide you with experience of scoping, designing and delivering of a short research project. This requires an understanding of the background literature, as well as relevant analysis techniques. You will need to agree the project scope early on and deliver the project within the two weeks of the module. The module will allow you to draw on the experience and learning from the previous modules. Example topics could include analysis of end-of-life options for an offshore asset.

Technical requirements specific to project brief and relevant to the MSc course and route.

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

• Deliver a research project, including identification of research methods,
• Design a data analysis method appropriate to their chosen research topic,
• Execute a short project, analyse the outcomes and provide sound recommendations.

• Dr Sagar Jain

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 (both PV and CSP), 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 technology and systems.

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 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.

Energy distribution

• Smart grid and micro-grid,
• Smart grid for case study
• Machine learning in energy.

Energy harvesting

• Energy harvesting technologies,
• Case Study.

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 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 energy storage and distribution 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

Environmental impact assessment and life cycle analysis are important tools for evaluating the sustainability of complex renewable energy technologies and industrial processes or products. The tools and concepts taught in this module will enable you to assess the sustainability of a case study from an environmental standpoint. Analysis of relevant case studies to demonstrate the assessment process, including how to account for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.

Environmental impact assessment and sustainability:
• Environmental Impact Assessment,
• Environmental Risk Assessment,
• Indicator selection and analysis,
• Life cycle analysis, and carbon foot printing,
• Social 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 and social appraisal metrics,
• Design and implement a strategy to assess the environmental sustainability of a process or technology, and evaluate the associated uncertainties. 

• Dr Pegah Mirzania

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 to techno-economic modelling of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.
• 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 renewable energy and other industrial 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,
• Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• Occupational health and safety legislation and duty of care,
• Human reliability analysis and accident causation: Major accident sequences, risk assessment and 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.

  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 and other industries within the context of environmental sustainability.
• Design an appropriate health and safety policy for a particular renewable energy technology or industrial sector.

• Dr Orsolya Ihasz

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.

The purpose of this module is to provide you with experience of scoping and designing a project. 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.

• Project management:
  • Project scoping and definition,
  • Project planning,
  • Project risk assessment and mitigation,
  • Resource planning and allocation,
• Financial management of projects.
• Ethics and the role of the engineer:
  • Ethics 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:

• Design and scope a project, including identification of methods, resources required and risk management approaches,
• Assess the likely financial needs of a new project and pitch for finance,
• Evaluate ethical dilemmas and the role of the engineer within the context of your chosen industry.

• Professor 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 most preferred technology for the specific case study.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a group to achieve the stated requirements of the module brief.
• 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 Patrick Verdin

The purpose of this module is to provide you with experience of scoping, designing and delivering of a short research project. This requires an understanding of the background literature, as well as relevant analysis techniques. You will need to agree the project scope early on and deliver the project within the two weeks of the module. The module will allow you to draw on the experience and learning from the previous modules. Example topics could include analysis of end-of-life options for an offshore asset.

Technical requirements specific to project brief and relevant to the MSc course and route.

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

• Deliver a research project, including identification of research methods,
• Design a data analysis method appropriate to their chosen research topic,
• Execute a short project, analyse the outcomes and provide sound recommendations.