|
 Academic Year:
| 2012/3 |
| Owning Department/School:
| Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 40%, EX 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | ME40055 - Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: To introduce a wide range of energy technologies, including renewable, fossil and nuclear To explore the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of energy generating technologies To introduce assessment techniques for evaluating projects in terms of energy use and environmental impact, including life cycle assessment and economic analysis. To understand the relationship between alternative energy technologies and the societies in which they develop and to participate in discussion of energy and environmental options. To explore how we will meet our energy demand in future years, and the consequences our decisions will have on supply, society and environment. Learning Outcomes: After taking this unit the student should be able to: * Evaluate the life cycle of energy projects, and present the results in a form that will enable decision makers to comprehend their energy and environmental consequences. * Develop the key features of sustainable energy policies in terms of their environmental and economic impact. * Participate in local and national debates over large and small-scale development projects with an understanding of limitations placed on them by economic, physical, and environmental constraints. Skills: Problem solving; written communication; working independently, group work and presenting and debating. Content: ENERGY RESOURCES: Fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal); Renewable energy sources (eg solar, hydro, marine, biomass, wind); . ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Pollutant emissions from fossil fuel combustion: local, regional and global effects; nuclear power and environmental sustainability; environmental impacts associated with renewable technologies, including biomass, solar, marine, hydro and wind. ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES: Economic assessment , life cycle assessment. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: "People, planet and prosperity"; the sustainability equation; principles and practice of sustainable development Sustainable energy options. ENERGY AND SOCIETY: Energy in developing countries; impact and engineering solutions and problems. ENERGY POLICY: Current UK and global energy situation. Development of UK energy policies, examination of the global impacts. Impacts of policy on companies and energy development. |
| Programme availability: |
ME40055 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
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