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Module

SPG8008 : Renewable Energy: Biomass and Bioenergy

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Paul Bilsborrow
  • Lecturer: Professor Anh Phan, Dr Sharon Velasquez Orta
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

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

Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The aim of the module is to provide students with a systematic and comprehensive knowledge of the sources of biomass and the range of technologies available for conversion into energy. The module will focus on the opportunities and potential for biomass to contribute to the production of renewable heat, electricity and transport fuel together with the potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The module examines biomass resources and technologies available for conversion to energy. The module looks at technologies for the production of heat, electricity and transport fuel, the economics of production and the potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The potential for reducing costs of the different technologies are considered via research and development, improved efficiencies, implementation design decisions, the circular bioeconomy, etc.

Outline Of Syllabus

Units Content:

Biomass resources, policy and potential contribution to EU and UK targets
Biomass and waste technologies
Biomass heat
Gasification
Anaerobic digestion
Biofuel technologies
Environmental performance/issues/integration
Economics/costs
Circular Bioeconomy

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion110:0010:00Exam Revision
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Written Exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture32:307:30Lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture43:0012:00Lectures
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study168:3068:30Consolidate knowledge
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module will be delivered by a series of lectures, supported by online materials for review.

On-line quizzes in Canvas will be used for formative assessment

Assessment Methods

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

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A100N/A
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Computer assessment2MFormative Canvas quiz
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The post-school assignment allows students to develop a deeper understanding of a particular biomass conversion technology. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed via the unseen written examination.

Subject specific, cognitive and communication skills will also be assessed through both the written examination and assignment. The other key skills will not be assessed but students will need to utilise these skills in order to access the self guided material and prepare assignments.

Reading Lists

Timetable