Study information

Key Skills for Renewable Energy Applications - 2022 entry

MODULE TITLEKey Skills for Renewable Energy Applications CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEENEM106 MODULE CONVENERDr Helen Smith (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 12 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 20
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
This module will develop your core competencies and skills and introduce relevant tools which are used in renewable energy technology and project development, and then apply these to a renewable energy feasibility study addressing a real-world challenge. The module addresses a range of skills around computer based software tools, financial analysis, project management and sustainability, and general academic skills, which will be important throughout your MSc programme and in wider employment. These skills will then be consolidated through an in-depth renewable energy feasibility study.
 
This module is compulsory for MSc Renewable Energy Engineering students, and is designed to complement and support the technology-focused ENEM101 Renewable Energy Systems module.
AIMS - intentions of the module

This module aims to equip you with key skills which are fundamental to the Renewable Energy Engineering MSc programme and a renewable energy engineering career. These include the use of computational tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), geographic information systems (GIS), Matlab and programming. Beyond the computational skills, the module will develop your understanding of project finance analysis including calculation of key finance performance indicators as well as community or crowd funding and structures, and address the sustainability of projects through life-cycle analysis (LCA). It will also introduce project management techniques, and will develop your general academic skills including sourcing and synthesis of data and information, report writing and presentation skills.

The module will bring these elements together, and draw on your technology-specific knowledge from the ENEM101 Renewable Energy Systems module, in the project feasibility study. 
 
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 Show competence in the use of industry-standard software packages with a specific focus on renewable energy technologies;
2 Understand the fundamental principles of computer programming and be able to write simple programs and analyse data;
3 Exhibit a sound knowledge of project management and financing principles;
4 Understand the application of life cycle analysis techniques; 
 
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
5 Understand spatial and geographic data;
6 Recognise the importance of engineering design principals;
7 Display project and financial management skills in the context of a high value, multi-discipline construction environment;
8 Perform a renewable energy project feasibility study;
 
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:
9 Manage and direct your own learning;
10 Present your work effectively;
11 Work effectively as part of a team;
12 Grasp the practical application of project management and financial appraisal techniques. This requires the development of not just problem solving skills, but also an appreciation of how to identify risk and manage uncertainty, and how to focus on the key issues in a complex environment.
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
  • Introduction to computer programming and data analysis with Matlab
  • CAD/Solidworks self-directed learning
  • Spatial data and GIS
  • Project management
  • Project financial planning and analysis
  • Life cycle analysis
  • Approaches to renewable energy feasibility studies
  • Site visit(s) to support feasibility study where permitted
 
LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 40 Guided Independent Study 110 Placement / Study Abroad
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 12 Seminars: Delivery and discussion of core concepts
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 16 Guided workshops on software applications
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 12 Guided group-work sessions to develop
Guided independent study 110 Tutorial exercises, independent reading and research, assessment preparation and write-up

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Matlab tutorial exercises 10 hours 1, 2 Verbal
CAD tutorial exercises 10 hours 1, 6 Verbal
GIS tutorial exercises 10 hours 1, 5 Verbal
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 100 Written Exams 0 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Individual planning submission 15 900-word equivalent 9 Verbal
Renewable energy feasibility study group report 60 3600-word equivalent/student 1-10, 12 Written
Renewable energy feasibility study group presentation 25 20-min equivalent 9-10 Written
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Individual planning submission (15%) Individual planning submission 9 August ref/def period
Renewable energy feasibility study group report (60%) Individual renewable energy feasibility study 1-12 August ref/def period
Renewable energy feasibility study group presentation (25%) Individual feasibility study presentation 9-11 August ref/def period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Referred and deferred assignments will mirror the original modes of assessment.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Web-based and electronic resources:

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set NA ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Principles and framework
Set NA ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines
Set Attaway, S. MATLAB: a practical introduction to programming and problem solving 9780128163450
Set Burrough, P. A., R. A. McDonnell, C. D. Lloyd Principles of Geographic Information Systems 3rd 9780198742845
Set Onwubolu, G. Computer-Aided Engineering Design with SolidWorks Imperial College Press, London 2013 9781848166653
Set Singh, Anoop; Pant, Deepak; Olsen, Stig Irving (Eds.) Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources Springer 2013 978-1-4471-5363-4
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 4 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Wednesday 9th March 2022 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 9th March 2022
KEY WORDS SEARCH Renewable energy; CAD; Matlab; LCA; Project management; Project finance

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.