CEM16A-Renewable Energy Systems A

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: CEM102 Business of Construction CEM103 Project Management: Principles and Practice CEM104 Construction Cost Management: Principles and Practice CEM105 Emerging Economies Integrating Studies CEM107 Sustainable Design and Management Principles and Practice
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Maria Vahdati
Email: m.m.vahdati@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is concerned with renewable energy technologies. In CEM16A, these include two of the following technologies: biomass, solar, wind and hydro (including marine energy). Technical, environmental and social issues are considered. Technical and non-technical barriers and issues limiting widespread use of renewable energy are discussed. Assessment through laboratory work, use of energy software and group activities give students an opportunity to examine and analyse data as well as to investigate issues concerned with the use of renewable energy.

Aims:

To provide the student with a knowledge of the technical, environmental and social issues associated with a range of renewable energy technologies.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to demonstrate ability in the following areas:

• Be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a range of the renewable energy technologies covered, supporting their arguments with quantitative analysis.


• Be able to assess the technical, environmental and social issues associated with a range of renewable energy technologies.


• Be able to conduct resource feasibility studies for the renewable energy technologies covered.


• Be able to undertake the outline specification and design of commonly used concepts for the exploitation of several types of renewable resources.

Additional outcomes:

On completion of this module students will have had the opportunity to:

• apply their knowledge to the use of software packages and to some practical work.

Outline content:

The underlying science and technical principles necessary for the assessment and analysis of two of the following renewable energy technologies:

• Wind energy (including relevant elements of fluid mechanics)


• Hydro power (including relevant elements of fluid mechanics)


• Biomass (including relevant elements of heat transfer and thermodynamics)


• Solar, encompassing PV and thermal

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be delivered in two intensive teaching blocks, covering the science and technology appropriate for each of the main subject areas outlined above. Each block will have approximately 22 hours of contact time, and will be structured to employ a combinations of teaching and learning methods. There will be lectures, laboratory work, software classes, site visits and group learning activities. Site visits may take place outside of the block weeks.

The exact percentage breakdown will depend on which two of wind, solar, biomass and hydro/marine the students selects in this module. The assessment of solar will consist of 90% practical skill/data analysis and 10% oral presentation. The assessment of wind is 100% written assignment/data analysis. The assessment of hydro/marine is 100% practical skills /data analysis. The assessment of biomass is 70% written assignment/poster and 30% oral presentation.