- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues


ME40055: Energy & the environment

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2017/8
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 40%, EX 60%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Report (CW 40%)
  • Examination (EX 60%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
ME40055 Reassessment Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions 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.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ME40055 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering
  • UEEE-AFM12 : MEng(Hons) Electrical Power Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEEE-AKM12 : MEng(Hons) Electrical Power Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEXX-AFM02 : MEng(Hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEXX-AKM02 : MEng(Hons) Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFM04 : MEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM04 : MEng(Hons) Aerospace Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEME-AFM16 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM16 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEME-AFM38 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM38 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management with Year long work placement (Year 5)
  • UEME-AFM47 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical with Automotive Engineering (Year 4)
  • UEME-AKM47 : MEng(Hons) Mechanical with Automotive Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 5)

Notes: