ESC-40097 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module aims to provide students with an overview of key concepts, debates, processes, and discourses in relation to clean technologies, including renewable sources such as wind/ wave/ solar/ geothermal/ nuclear, and storage technologies such as hydrogen. The module will emphasise how we can use these technologies in specific scenarios, minimise carbon footprint and assess the contribution each might make to meeting energy needs sustainably. Students will gain an appreciation of clean technology while developing transferrable employability skills by working in groups and independently.

The aim of this module is to develop students'; technical literacy around clean technologies including hydrogen technology, bioenergy, wind, wave, solar thermal and photovoltaic, geothermal, nuclear, hydro and marine energy. A framework to develop an appreciation of key drivers and barriers to energy development around the world is provided. The module aims to support professional skills development in technical information processing, feasibility assessment and specifying suitable technology for sites around the world taking into account economic, social and technical factors.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify and assess complex issues affecting the development and exploitation of a range of renewable energy sources in the context of real-world developments and research literature at the forefront of the discipline: 1
interpret detailed technical and economic data to assess the capability and capacity of renewable resources in the context of energy security and energy storage research developments
: 1
use a wide range of complex technical, economic and management information to evaluate, select and produce site-specific professional feasibility plans appropriate for renewable energy systems planning including identification of risk-factors: 2
present complex technical information and data on renewable sources and its implications in a way that is accessible to the intended specialist and/or non-specialist audience
: 2

Study hours

40 hours of lectures/ seminars
40 hours preparation and presentation of group PowerPoint slides
100 hours preparation of report
120 hours of session preparation and review, literature scoping, data collation, reading etc.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment