EN4103: Renewable Energy Design

School Cardiff School of Engineering
Department Code ENGIN
Module Code EN4103
External Subject Code 100175
Number of Credits 30
Level L7
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Professor Rhys Pullin
Semester Double Semester
Academic Year 2023/4

Outline Description of Module

  • To introduce the students to working on multidisciplinary technical projects. This will be undertaken via the design of a renewable energy park wind/tidal stream 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.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • Produce a design for an off-shore energy park, for a given specification, which satisfies relevant codes of practice, that can power the city of Cardiff.
  • 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

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered through a blend of online teaching and learning material, guided study, and group work sessions.

A series of lectures and workshops, primarily from university staff and guest lecturers from the consulting engineering sector, will be given on specialised areas. Each group will be provided, where appropriate, with handouts giving the basic information required for a specific design task. 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.

Each group will make presentations and develop a design portfolio for the park.

Skills that will be practised and developed

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

How the module will be assessed

The module will focus on fortnightly design tasks that build to the final energy park design. Each fortnight a new element of the overall design will be investigated. The lead staff member will deliver core material though a lecture and then provide a task that the groups will complete. The first week of a task being a lecture and task and the second workshop session (Q&A). Student groups will then submit to a completed design proforma (up to 5 pages), that includes details of who led the design and who contributed to which area. On submission each group will be asked to provide feedback to two other groups on their submissions. In addition, the lead staff member of the task will provide further formative feedback.

These proformas will be then used to complete one (of two) elements of a design portfolio worth 45% (nine tasks at 5% each). The calculations and computer outputs students have used to develop the proformas will be included as appendices. An important aspect, however for the module will be 25% for a critical review of the completed design project. This leads to 70% total for a portfolio submission. The critical commentary will have elements including main environmental barriers to design, main technology barriers, key connection and distribution challenges and can the energy requirements be achieved.

On submission of the portfolio groups will complete a presentation (30 minutes) on the work they completed and the critical commentary. This will be followed by 15 minutes of questions. This element will be worth 30%.

Therefore, this module is assessed using two components, which are weighted as follows:

1. Design Portfolio, 70%
2. Presentation and Viva, 30%

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Portfolio 70 Design Portfolio N/A
Presentation 30 Presentation And Viva N/A

Syllabus content

  • Environmental issues – including energy needs and economic issues
  • Resource Assessment (wind/tidal)
  • Structural design – foundations and towers
  • Mechanical Design – rotating machines
  • Electrical Aspects – Power electronics, generator control and connection to supply system
  • Structural Health Monitoring
  • Energy and Environmental impact
  • Costing

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