Renewable Energy

Module Identifier
EEM4020
Module Title
Renewable Energy
Academic Year
2027/2028
Semester
Semester 1
Co-ordinator
Professor Nigel Copner
Reading List
View on Aspire
Pre-Requisite
EE22020
Other Staff

Assessment

Assessment Type

Assessment details

Proportion
Semester Assessment Reports: 3000 Words 50%
Semester Exam Written exam: 2 Hours 50%
Supplementary Assessment Reports: 3000 Words 50%
Supplementary Exam Written exam: 2 Hours 50%

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Critically evaluate the key benefits and challenges of energy storage, bioenergy, energy harvesting and distribution in renewable energy.
  2. Analyse the main configurations and components in energy storage and distribution for renewable energy systems.
  3. Justify the importance of materials, control, integration and information management issues in renewable energy.
  4. Appraise future technology and socio-economic trends in sustainability and assess associated opportunities and challenges.

Brief description

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.

Aims

This module aims to provide a broad insight into renewable technology and how important electrical and electronic skills are to delivering a future netzero including power distribution.

Content

Energy storage materials and technologies
Electrochemical and battery energy storage,
Thermal energy storage,
Medium to large scale energy storage,
Hydrogen storage/fuel cells.
Bioenergies
Biorefinery,
Biofuels.
Energy distribution:
Smart grid: Case study to include advanced metering infrastructure (of which smart meters are a generic name for any utility side device even if it is more capable e.g. a fibre optic router).Smart distribution boards and circuit breakers integrated with home control and demand response. Load control switches and smart appliances. Renewable energy resources, including the capacity to charge parked (electric vehicle) batteries or larger arrays of batteries recycled from these, or other energy storage.
• Energy efficient resources
• Electric surplus distribution by power lines and auto-smart switch
• Sufficient utility grade fibre broadband to connect and monitor the above, with wireless as a backup. Sufficient spare if "dark" capacity to ensure failover, often leased for revenue.
Micro-grid: A 'Stand-alone microgrid' or 'isolated microgrid'. Local generation, consumption, energy storage, point of common coupling.
Energy harvesting
Energy harvesting technologies- solar, wind, tidal, wave, hydro,
Case Study.

Module skills

Skills type

Skills details
Co-ordinating with others Capability of independent work and group team work
Creative Problem Solving problem solving, analytical and investigative skills
Critical and analytical thinking Knowledge and understanding of advanced electrical and electronic areas, and ability to apply enhanced subject specific skills
Real world sense Ability to develop mathematical and computing skills used to model, drive and describe the physical world

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7