RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES - 2020/1

Module Overview

Expected prior learning:  None.




Module purpose:  To inform students as to the importance of renewable energy in the energy mix required for generation within nations. This is now becoming law in developed countries following the Kyoto agreement and green energy obligations. Students will learn as to the various energy generation options available from power scavengers for handheld calculators to energy generation to power the world’s energy need. Furthermore, an appreciation for the need for energy storage at all power levels will be discussed, with special emphasis on the materials requirements. Students will be able to examine next generation materials being proposed for meeting world's demand based on green energy.





 

Module provider

Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Module Leader

SILVA Ravi (Elec Elec En)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes the following.

In each of the topics below the fundamental scientific, technological or engineering principles on which they are based will be discussed and extended to practical device and technology applications.

1. Solar energy technology (Prof. R Silva – 6 lectures): Energy challenges, energy mix, renewables, legislation landscape. Different technologies and key drivers associated with developing new technologies with illustrative examples.


2. Solar cell materials (Prof. R. Silva - 6 lectures):  fundamentals of solar cell materials, common solar materials including c-Si, a-Si, organic materials, nanomaterials and nanostructures. The connectivity between developing materials and it being used for energy generation and building of supply chains to provide technology solutions will be examined.


3. Solar cell devices (Dr M Shkunov - 6 lectures):  fundamentals of solar cell (photovoltaic devices) structure and operation, efficiency, common solar cell structures, organic and inorganic heterostructures, multi-junction devices. Nanotechnology applications for efficient photons management.


4. Energy storage (Dr M Shkunov - 6 lectures):  Structure and operation of fuel cells. Supercapacitors,  batteries for Internet–of-Things devices and remote sensors. Current and future challenges in nanotechnology applications.


5. Energy scavenging  (ATI Lecturer, IJ (to be confirmed) – 6 lectures):    Thermoelectric and piezoelectric energy harvesters, solar thermal energy capture. Triboelectric energy harvesters. Role of nanomaterials for sustainable future technologies.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy for this module is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the learning outcomes. The written examination will assess the knowledge and assimilation of terminology, concepts and theory of the different parts of the module.

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of the following.

·         2-hour, closed-book written examination

 

Formative assessment and feedback

For the module, students will receive formative assessment/feedback in the following ways.

·         During lectures, by question and answer sessions

·         During tutorials/tutorial classes

·         By means of unassessed tutorial problem sheets (with answers)





 

Module aims

• Provide students with an appreciation for the current energy mix used to power the world.
• Provide students with the need for renewable energies to be developed in order to allow for a sustainable solution to the world power supplies.
• Help students discover how novel energy scavenging techniques and new materials are needed to help provide power for day-to-day operations.
• Provide students with an oversight as to the power and energy storage needs that will enable the Internet-of-Things (IoT) to operate in the future.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to achieve the module aims by exposing students to key areas that are needed for a modern energy mix. Renewable energies will be a key focus point. We will focus on next generation technologies which will be based on nano-materials, but give students an appreciation of the current dominant technologies and what is required for sustainable solutions of the future.

Learning and teaching methods include the following.

• Lectures  (3hrs x 10 weeks)


• Tutorials (3hrs x 1 week)


• In class discussions (as part of lectures  x 10 weeks)


• Private study of specified articles (3hrs x 10 weeks)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: EEEM058

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.