Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2014-2015 (archived)

Module ENGI4281: ENERGY MARKETS, LOW CARBON AND THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES

Department: Engineering

ENGI4281: ENERGY MARKETS, LOW CARBON AND THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2014/15 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to H221
Tied to H300

Prerequisites

  • Level 3 MEng Mechanical Engineering route OR Level 3 Electrical Engineering route

Corequisites

  • As specified in programme regulations

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • As specified in programme regulations

Aims

  • This module is designed solely for students studying School of Engineering and Computing Sciences degree programmes.
  • To introduce and familiarise students with technologies for the thermal utilisation of renewable energy for heat and power production.
  • To understand why and how market-based solutions have been applied in the electricity supply industry.
  • To introduce elements of microeconomics and theory of the firm
  • To understand key principles of power system risk assessment and how these may applied in wind integration studies.
  • To understand technologies for low carbon transportation including alternative drive-trains and fuels.

Content

  • Energy Markets and aspects of market, competition and pricing.
  • Energy and Risk; including aspects generation adequacy and reliability needs.
  • Solar, thermal, biomass, hydrogen and waste energy resources.
  • Low carbon vehicle drive-trains.
  • Vehicle energy consumption, emissions and alternative fuels.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • A knowledge and understanding of different types of thermal extraction of New and Renewable Energy.
  • An understanding of the engineering of low carbon vehicles.
  • Understanding of principles of power system economics and how market based solutions can be applied to a previously centrally controlled industry.
  • Understanding of how energy is priced and how network affects marginal prices at different locations.
  • Understanding of methods for quantifying risk in power systems and application to system planning and operation in systems with high renewable capacities.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • An awareness of current technology, analysis methods and industrial practises along with the ability to apply those methods in novel situations.
  • To use effectively specialised, advanced computational tools and packages for the analysis of designing thermo-mechanical converters and their effect on the market and energy economics.
  • An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specialised and advanced technical and professional skills, an ability to perform critical assessment and review and an ability to communicate the results of their own work effectively.
Key Skills:
  • Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
  • Highly specialised numerical skills appropriate to an engineer.
  • Highly specialised use of information technology (IT) relevant to the engineering profession.
  • Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The Low Carbon and Thermal Technologies course is covered in lectures, and reinforced by problem sheets, leading to the required problem solving capability. Assessment is by written examination.
  • The Energy Markets and Risk course is covered in lectures, reinforced by problem sheets and a laboratory session,leading to the required problem solving capability. Assessment is by written examination and coursework due to the wide range of applied and analytic, in-depth material covered in this module and to demonstrate the ability to solve advanced problems independently.
  • Students are able to make use of staff 'Tutorial Hours' to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign up sessions available for up to one hour per week per lecture course.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Low Carbon and Thermal Technologies Lectures 20 Typically 1 per week 1 Hour 20
Energy Markets and Risk Lectures 20 Typically 1 per week 1 Hour 20
Tutorial Hours As required Weekly sign-up sessions Up to 1 Hour 8
Energy Markets and Risk Laboratories 1 2 2
Preparation and Reading 150
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 90%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Low Carbon and Thermal Technologies 2 hours 56% No
Energy Markets and Risk 2 hours 44% No
Component: Coursework Component Weighting: 10%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Capacity assignment 5000 words 100% No

Formative Assessment:


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University