Module Catalogue 2024/25

NUS8204 : Renewable Energy Technologies

NUS8204 : Renewable Energy Technologies

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Jianfang Xiao
  • Owning School: NUIS
  • Teaching Location: Singapore
  • Capacity limit: 50 student places
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 15
ECTS Credits: 8.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

Engineering first degree or other equivalent qualification

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the fundamentals of available sources of renewable energy and give details of its conversion into electricity. Students will gain an overview of the engineering challenges of renewable energy production and a wider understanding of renewable energy in a societal context. The leading technologies in the field will be examined in detail, with a focus on electrical machine requirements.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       Energy picture: Put energy generation into context General trend in energy consumption and present production.
•       Resource understanding: Relative abundance of resource national maximum resource of major renewable sources.
•       Hydro power: Understanding of engineering behind the resource – large verses low head, run of river – turbine options, resource calculations, environmental constraints.
•       Solar thermal and PV: Understanding of engineering behind the resource Understanding of basic physical processes, overview of economic viability.
•       Wind engineering: Detailed understanding of engineering behind the resource – basic fluid dynamics – Betz limit. Components of typical state of the art wind turbine. Fixed speed verses variable speed, gearbox v direct drive.
•       Wave and Tidal power: Understanding of engineering behind the resource –challenges and state of the art.
•       Social + economic context: Appreciation of importance of environmental legislation and other topics outside of the engineering discipline such as details of planning, consenting and financing
•       Energy Storage Systems: Batteries, Ultra Capacities, Flywheels, Thermal Storage System.
•       Cogeneration and Trigeneration
•       Energy Management with Renewable Energy and Energy Storages
•       Renewable Energy for Singapore: Resources and Standards such as Green Marks

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

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

• Review the practicalities of harnessing renewable energy resources; of their rather diffuse nature; and of the possible environmental cost of utilising renewable energy, such as degrading visual amenity, alteration of water flows in rivers and estuaries, or other damage.
• Calculate the energy available from specific renewable energy resources at a given site.
• Discuss the challenges to electrical machine design and power conversion unique to renewable energy applications.
• Describe the engineering challenges associated wind, wave, tidal and hydro power.
• Describe characteristics desirable in electrical machines suitable for wind, wave, tidal and hydro power.
• Evaluate the guiding principles of solar PV.
• Discuss present and future developments in electrical infrastructure

Intended Skill Outcomes

• Electrical machine design experience.
• Evaluating and making decisions on limited information.
• Importance of cross-discipline knowledge for meaningful contribution to the energy debate.
• Forming an engineering argument.
• Group work.
• Presentation skills.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture301:0030:00Lectures and tutorials
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion120:0020:00Directed reading which includes IEEE papers and web refs
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture61:006:00Drop-In/Surgery
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion241:0024:00Revision for exam
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion125:0025:00Complete coursework. Maximum 1500 words.
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Examination
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study143:0043:00Personal study throughout teaching period to follow up taught classes
Total150:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
EPE8204Renewable Energy Technologies
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures and module material provide core material and guidance for further reading. The module material also provides problem solving practice and improves planning skills and gives the students the opportunity to manage their own learning. Five hours of directed research is to give students practice assessing specific complex issues which will be discussed in the tutorials. The coursework develops research skills and the ability to utilise relevant information from different sources.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A70Closed book exam
Exam Pairings
Module Code Module Title Semester Comment
Renewable Energy Technologies2N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report2M30A mini project using MATLAB/Simulink for simulation of PV generation and integration. Submission of simulation model and report
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The examination is an appropriate way to assess both theoretical knowledge and understanding and problem solving skills under time-constraint as required in industry. The coursework involves problem solving exercises to enable a more realistic engineering problem to be set and using the acquired knowledge from lectures and independent self-study to find possible solutions.

The written exercise is a mini project on renewable energy sources and their impact on power systems. The submission files include a literature review and a report.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

Welcome to Newcastle University Module Catalogue

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.