SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY - 2025/6

Module code: ENGM245

Module Overview

Solar Energy is quite wide and large subject. It based on different branches of science and technologies. The model is focused on photo-voltaic side of solar energy applications. It tries to deal with the subject from different angles of consideration; the physics base, technology development, technical work, system design and economics.  

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

CECELJA Franjo (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

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

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 95

Lecture Hours: 22

Tutorial Hours: 9

Guided Learning: 11

Captured Content: 13

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:


  • Introduction to the Solar PV :

  • Solar thermal

  • The silicon p-n Junction

  • Solar cell construction

  • PV connection

  • PV System Sizing

  • PV wiring

  • PV Thermal

  • Economic factors


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework COURSEWORK 50
Examination Online 2 HR ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) EXAM 50

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate his/ her gained knowledge and skills in the module. 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • One course work of 50%.

  • 2 hours unseen examination of 50%. 



Formative assessment

N/A

Feedback


  • Formative verbal feedback is given during in-class problem solving and discussion sessions.

  • Formative feedback on coursework is given verbally and available on SurreyLearn to the problem formulation and solution.


Module aims

  • Provide students with a systematic understanding of current knowledge, problems and insights in solar photo-voltaic technologies
  • Train students to evaluate current research and advances in this field
  • Enable students to evaluate solar PV technologies, developing critiques and proposing solutions

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001   Obtain knowledge and understanding of the established techniques of research and enquiry; assess the available solar PV technology; design and select appropriate collection and storage and optimise and evaluate system design. K
002 Acquire and develop the thinking skills to demonstrate self-direction and originality in problem solving; to gather design data; to synthesise and evaluate data; to analyse published works and to plan, conduct and report. KC
003 Acquire and develop practical skills to design different PV systems; to analyse a design and predict its performance; to evaluate the overall performance of systems and to demonstrate the benefits of these technologies. P
004 Acquire and develop transferable skills to structure and communicate ideas; to act autonomously in planning and implementing; to participate in groups and to work independently and with initiative; to find, assess and use information and to manage time and work to deadlines. T

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

33 hrs of combined lectures/problem-solving classes, 2 hrs unseen examination, and 115 hrs independent learning.

Total student learning time 150 hours.

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • lectures, tutorials 18 hrs,

  • class discussion, example solving, systems design 12 hrs

  • revision 3 hrs


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: ENGM245

Other information

In line with Surrey’s Curriculum Framework, we are committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module contributes to the five pillars in the following ways:

 

Employability

Most of tutorial sessions and the coursework are designed and positioned here such to provide students with and expose them to a more authentic (real world) problem solving experience towards at the end of their programme. Through this, students will gain experience of report writing for specific audiences/stakeholders, and ability to demonstrate capability in problem solving directly applicable to a wide range of sectors, which could be cited in interviews and applications to show students’ experience of applying scholarly knowledge to another sector.

 

Digital capabilities

Significant level of digital skill is a clear output of this module which students gain through a direct and indirect exposure:

  • Digital capability gained through a direct exposure includes the use of Adspen+, a software tool for modelling and solving optimization and decision making problems. During every tutorial students use Aspen+ in computer laboratory gaining experience in running the software but also in using computers in more general terms;
  • Digital capability gained through an indirect exposure includes teaching materials and key content available in multimedia forms through the Virtual Learning Environment Surreylearn.

 

Global and Cultural Capabilities

Engineering in general and Process Systems Design in particular are global synonyms and the tools and skills used on this module can be used internationally and multiculturally. Students learn about generic engineering and professional code of conduct and the importance of respect in teamwork. Students learn to work together in groups with other students from different backgrounds to solve a problem. This module allows students to develop skills that will allow them to develop applications with global reach and collaborate with their peers around the world.

 

Sustainability

Students will complete this module with social, ethical and contextually aware knowledge. This module has gender inequality (in the broadest and most inclusive use of the term) at its core, aligned with the UN’s gender equality sustainability goal. It also seeks to ensure community sustainability through the knowledge, skills and awareness students will have upon completion of the module.

 

Resourcefulness and resilience

This module directly contributes to the educational elements of resourcefulness and resilience as students are honing their autonomous learning to a sophisticated and advanced level. Throughout the module, from concept of formulating the problem to implementation of tools and finding solutions, students will be highly independent, yet supported by their supervisor in the course of tutorials. Students will gain particular skills in informed decision making as this is the core nature of the module They will have to problem solve, navigate ethical considerations and consider their arguments and findings in context. Within a network of support, students will further develop the extent to which they are independent and resourceful learners with a great deal of confidence in conducting and leading independent work towards solution.

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 2025/6 academic year.