• To introduce the students to working on multidisciplinary technical projects. This will be undertaken via the design of a wind/photovoltaic farm or similar renewable energy generating facility, integrating a number of specialist activities in Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering.
• To further the students ability to work in group activities.

• Produce a brief for a wind/photovoltaic farm or tidal generating system, for a given specification, which satisfies relevant codes of practice.
• Provide details of support structures, turbine design and integration into the electricity supply system
• Evaluate the environmental impact of the facility
• Analyse the Health & Safety issues
• Analyse costs and energy rating and general economic aspects

A series of three hour lectures and workshops, primarily from guest lecturers from the consulting engineering sector (WS Atkins and Garrad Hassan & Partners), will be given on specialised areas. Each group will be provided, where appropriate, with handouts giving the basic information required for the design. Additional information must be obtained by the students, as required.

A series of workshops will be included to discuss specific design issues and progress of the groups.

Seminars will be arranged during both Semesters. Each group will make presentations.

• Demonstrate a range of communication skills.
• Demonstrate a ability to work on a multidisciplinary project in teams
• Demonstrate the ability to understand relevant protocols standards, and specifications.

This module will be assessed in a number of ways. The assessments are:

Oral progress presentation – this will be a Powerpoint presentation and will take place in Week 5 of the Autumn Semester/. This will allow the assessors to mark the groups’ progress against a marking scheme. This will account for 5% of the total mark.

Feasibility Report to be submitted in Week 11 of the Autumn Semester. This will allow the assessors to mark the groups’ progress against a marking scheme. This will account for 15% of the total mark

Final written Group Report as described below, an oral defence of this report and production of a technical poster. This will take place towards the end of Semester 2 and will account for 20% of the total mark.

All of the above components totalling 40% of the total mark are for group submissions and will be moderated by the peer asse4ssment that will be undertaken at the end of each semester.

For the final written Group Report each group has to produce areport that provides a justified and referenced solution to their design. It will provide a summary of the design proposal along with brief details of each of the aspects considered. These aspects might include:

• Ecological, archaeological and sustainability issues – including justifications as required.
• Structural design – from individual generators, the drive train, blades, support towers or foundations to details of the PV farm.
• Mechanical Design – turbines and gearboxes.
• Electrical aspects – including connection to the grid and system protection.
• Health and Safety – during construction, operation and decommissioning.
• Construction – including programme, transport, site access, craneage etc.
• Energy and Environmental impact – including energy related design of the site, environmental impact of the development etc.
• Costing – including cost of the solution, payback, etc.

In addition to the written Group Report, individual students will produce their own Appendix to be submitted together with the froup report, describing their individual contribution and providing the calculations and specification for the design of the individual components for which they have been responsible. The Appendix will receive an individual mark which will account for 60% of the total mark.

Re-assessment candidates will undertake a synoptic 100% individual coursework assessment based on the work undertaken within the module.

Environmental issues – including energy needs and economic issues
Structural design – foundations, barrages and towers
Mechanical Design – rotating machines
Electrical Aspects – Power Electronics, generator control and connection to supply system
Health and Safety
Energy and Environmental impact
Costing

Specialist texts will be identified through the module.

Specialist texts will be identified through the module.