There is evidence that climate change due to excessive greenhouse gas emissions threatens the stability of the world’s climate, economy, and population. The integration of renewable energy sources for the decarbonisation of the energy sector is critical to mitigate the projected impacts of climate change. Within this context, this module provides an understanding of the grid integration of renewable energy sources to support the transition to a net-zero electricity supply system. By building upon the module EN3708 Renewable Energy technologies, the module equips the students with techniques to analyse the generating systems of modern renewable energy technologies, with an emphasis on wind turbines. The analysis and computer simulation of wind turbine generating systems is undertaken and the configurations, main components and control systems of modern wind turbines are investigated. The large-scale grid integration of offshore wind farms and solar photovoltaic systems is assessed, and the requirements for Grid Codes for grid integration analysed. 

LO1. Critically understand the implications of the grid integration of renewable energy sources. 

LO2. Critically understand the techniques to analyse and control the generating systems of renewable energy technologies with an emphasis on modern wind turbines. 

LO3. Analyse and simulate the generating systems of wind turbines. 

LO4. Critically understand the requirements of the Grid Codes for renewable energy integration and how they can be met. 

The module will be delivered in the Spring term through a blend of face-to-face sessions (guided lectures, problem-solving tutorials, feedback sessions) and asynchronous resources (including pre-recorded material for self-study, quizzes, numerical examples, and sample tutorial problems).  

There will be six compulsory face-to-face 2-hour sessions with guided study, interactive discussion, and numerical examples. Three additional invited guest lectures will be delivered towards the end of the term. Three interactive ‘hands on’ sessions will be delivered early in the term to engage the students with MATLAB/Simulink to model and analyse wind turbine configurations (i.e. computer-based implementation of techniques). Towards the end of term, two compulsory 1-hour sessions will be held to further engage with tutorial problems and provide additional support. Provision of office hours to further support the learning experience will be provided. 

In addition to developing your problem solving, ethical, social and environmental awareness, critical thinking, reflection and communication skills, the module will support you in developing skills in: 

• Recognition of the environmental importance and drivers for the integration of renewable energy to a power system, including targets and policy around renewables.  

• Analyse and model synchronous and induction machines using dq-axis theory. 

• Analyse the operation of different wind turbine configurations and their main components. 

• Understand the impact of fixed-speed and variable-speed renewable energy configurations on system stability. 

• Analyse wind turbine configurations using MATLAB/Simulink. 

• Understand the engineering implications of offshore wind farm design. 

• Identify critical factors from the Grid Codes and propose solutions. 

There is only one summative assessment in this module, which consists of a 2-hour individual written examination (100%) (LO 1-4). The examination consists of four equally weighted compulsory questions. Graduate attributes of problem-solving, critical thinking, reflection, and communication are developed here. This is to be held at the end of the Spring term. Feedback on the summative examination will be provided in the form of a generic cohort feedback and your individual grade. 

‘Hands on’ computer simulations will provide a formative assessment opportunity (LO3). 

Additional formative opportunities will include weekly quizzes, numerical examples, and problem-solving tutorial sessions (LO 1, 2 and 4). 

Feedback on formative work will be verbal in class. For online quiz provision, feedback will be also online. 

To pass the module and obtain 10 credits, the minimum pass mark of 40% must be achieved. 

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:   

There is potential for re-assessment in this module, which will result in a 100% 2-hour individual written examination during the August Resit period (LO 1-4). 

Opportunities for re-assessment is only permitted provided you have not failed more credit than in the resit rule adopted by your programme. If the amount of credit you have failed is more than permitted by the relevant resit rule, you may be permitted to repeat study if you are within the threshold set for the Repeat rule adopted by your programme.  You will be notified of your eligibility to resit/repeat any modules after the Examining Board in the Summer period.   

All resit assessments will be held in the Resit Examination period, prior to the start of the following academic session.  

• Electricity generation from renewable energy sources. 

• Dynamic modelling of induction generators and synchronous generators for renewable energy applications. 

• Computational modelling of electrical machines and wind turbine systems. 

• Wind turbine configurations and energy extraction from the wind. 

• Fixed-speed induction generator-based wind turbines. 

• Variable-speed wind turbines (doubly-fed induction generator-based and full-power converter-based). 

• Power electronics for rotating renewable energy systems. 

• Control of wind turbines. 

• Grid integration of wind farms into the power system. 

• Grid integration of solar photovoltaic systems. 

• Grid Code requirements for renewable energy integration.