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• Dr Peter King

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,
• Hydrogen storage.

Bioenergies

• Biorefinery,
• Biofuels.

Energy distribution

• Smart grid and micro-grid,
• Case study

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, economic and environmental analysis 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.

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 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.
• Continuum, Navier-Stokes equations, compressible flow, multiphase flow.
• Fluid loading on horizontal and vertical axis turbines, Blade Element Momentum theory.
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 the wind, tides and waves are formed, and the factors that influence their distribution & predictability;
• Evaluate the principal concepts and methods of fluid mechanics, 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 Burak Cerik

This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyse, evaluate, and optimise the design of renewable energy structures operating in the marine environment, with a particular focus on floating offshore wind turbines, while considering the unique challenges posed by the dynamic ocean environment and the need for sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.

• Overview of offshore renewable energy device concepts
• Environmental conditions and site assessment: Wind resources, Wave and current loads, Soil conditions and seabed interaction
• Industry standards and Design Load Cases: IEC standards, Design Load Cases (DLCs) for offshore wind turbines, Site-specific load case development
• Integrated load analysis methodologies: Frequency-domain analysis, Time-domain analysis
• Structural dynamics of floating wind turbines: Coupled aerodynamic-hydrodynamic-structural analysis, Modal analysis and natural frequencies
• Hydrodynamic loading: Wave load calculations, Current loads
• Aerodynamic loading: Blade element momentum theory, Dynamic stall and unsteady aerodynamics, Turbine control strategies and load mitigation
• Limit state analysis: Fatigue load assessment and damage accumulation, Ultimate limit state design and extreme event analysis
• Anchoring and mooring systems: Mooring configurations and design principles, Anchor types and design considerations

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

• Analyse the coupled aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and structural dynamics of floating offshore wind turbines to inform design decisions.
• Apply industry standards and Design Load Cases to develop site-specific load cases for the design of floating offshore wind turbines.
• Evaluate the performance and loading of floating offshore wind turbines using integrated load analysis methodologies to optimise the design.
• Develop a comprehensive report detailing the integrated load analysis, site-specific load case development, and design recommendations for a floating offshore wind turbine.

• Dr Peter King

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.

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 [MCDA] applied to energy technologies to identify the most preferred 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 Gill Drew

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. 

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 Peter King

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,
• Hydrogen storage.

Bioenergies

• Biorefinery,
• Biofuels.

Energy distribution

• Smart grid and micro-grid,
• Case study

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, economic and environmental analysis in renewable energy,
• Appraise future technology and socio-economic trends in sustainability and assess associated opportunities and challenges.

• Dr Adriana Encinas-Oropesa

The purpose of this module is to provide you with experience of planning a project that will involve scoping and designing a product.  The module provides sessions on project and planning, including sustainable design principles, project risk management and resource allocation. A key part of this module is the consideration of systems thinking approach for creating innovative solutions, ethics, professional conduct, and the role of an engineer within the wider industry context as well as considerations for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Project Management,
Ethics, EDI and the role of the engineering (ethics case study),
Product development,
Circular Economy,
Systems thinking,
Innovation.

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

• Apply design thinking methods and techniques to generate a product design concept that can be scaled up to a commercially viable solution.
• Design and plan the product project including processes, resources required (human and material), product end-of-life and risk management.
• Integrate systems thinking and circular economy approaches to develop sustainable and innovative products.
• Evaluate ethical dilemmas, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and the role of the engineer within the context of their chosen industry.

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 Pegah Mirzania

In the context of rising household energy demands, concerns for energy security, the threat of climate change, and uncertainties in the price of energy (the so-called ‘energy trilemma’) require a transformation of the ways in which energy is produced, delivered and consumed. Both developed and developing economies face challenges stemming from meeting increasing electricity demands from more intermittent renewable resources. This module covers various 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 and environment risk are all key considerations when working in the renewable energy and other industrial sectors. These four topics are also broad and cover many aspects.  The module is therefore designed to provide you with the competencies to assess and evaluate the relevant international standards as well as the legislation and regulatory requirements. The module covers key topics including conceptual model development, probability, risk characterisation, and Geographical Information Systems. In doing so, this module aims to provide you with the capability and capacity to assess the wide range of increasingly complex risks and hazards facing organisations, policymakers and regulators. 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, including the ISO 14000 family and ISO 45001.
• Environmental legislation and voluntary standards.
• Environmental risk assessment.
• Problem definition and conceptual models.
• Spatial analysis and informatics.
• Risk screening and prioritisation.
• Assembling strength and weight of evidence.
• Review of major 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.
• Differentiate between voluntary requirements and legal or regulatory requirements for health and safety, and the environment.
• Critically evaluate the decision process underpinning the management of a wide range of risks and provide justification for the prioritisation and application of different risk management strategies.
• Examine and interpret the relationship between risk, social, economic, political and technological trends and be able to provide appropriate suggestions for communication of assessment and management of environmental risks related to the influencing factors.
• Design or critique health and safety policies for infrastructure installations.

• 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.

This module is 10 credits.

• Environmental Impact Assessment,
• Indicator selection and analysis,
• Life cycle analysis and carbon footprinting,
• Social impact assessment,
• The use of appropriate software for lifecycle analysis.

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,
• Design a framework to ensure compliance of a process, product or service to support the transition to Net Zero that is  compliant with 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 Peter King

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.

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 [MCDA] applied to energy technologies to identify the most preferred 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 Gill Drew

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. 

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.