This module will introduce you to working in a multidisciplinary technical project. This will be undertaken via the design of a renewable energy park wind/tidal stream renewable energy generating facility, integrating a number of specialist activities in an interdisciplinary group. The module will consolidate analytical and conceptual aspects of engineering design in combination with guest lectures. The module allows you to implement project and group management methods in a practical design situation and provide you with opportunities to develop skills relevant to a renewable energy career destination.

LO1.    Develop and critically assess a renewable energy design to a given specification by applying engineering principles whilst considering environmental and social aspects (AHEP4 M1, M2, M3, M6).
LO2.    Develop, foster and sustain an interdisciplinary group environment (AHEP4 M16), 
LO3.    Communicate relatively complex technical concepts and design decisions through written and oral forms to a range of audiences (AHEP4, M17). 
LO4.    Demonstrate and critically understand how findings from the developed design relate to academic literature, industrial applications, environmental and societal impacts. This should include the use of appropriate materials, engineering technologies and processes (AHEP4 M4, M5, M7, M13). 
LO5.    Extend and apply budgeting management, risk management and organisational skills to deliver a design solution (AHEP4 M9).

The Engineering Council sets the overall requirements for the AHEP (Accreditation for Higher Education Programmes). It is the standard used by the UK engineering profession to assess the competence and commitment of individual engineers and technicians and is in its 4th iteration. Link:  ahep-fourth-edition 

The module will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face teaching and online learning material. 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 with 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 a presentation and develop a design portfolio for the park.

Subject-Specific Skills:

• Ability to understand relevant protocols standards, and specifications.
• Analysis of environmental constraints, ecosystems, and regulatory compliance
• Use of simulation, and modelling tools for layout planning and performance analysis.
• Familiarity with project management, energy yield prediction, and structural analysis.
• Identification and mitigation of technical risks
• Integration of mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering considerations in a cohesive facility layout.
• Understanding how energy is captured, converted, and fed into the grid.
• Understanding the role of Environmental Impact Assessment in planning and permitting renewable energy infrastructure.

Professional & Practical Skills (AHEP4): 

Transferable/Employability Skills (Graduate Attributes):

• Collaboration Skills: 
• C1 - Contribute positively and effectively when working in a group, having an impact from the outset.
• C3 - Be respectful of the roles of others and acknowledge the limits of their own skills / experience 
• Effective Communicators:
• EC1 - Listen to and take account of the views of others
• EC2 - Communicate complex design and solution ideas effectively to diverse audiences.
• EC4 - Deliver, accept, and act on constructive feedback
• Ethically, socially and environmentally aware:
• ESEA1 - Consider own personal and professional ethical, social, and environmental responsibilities
• ESEA2 - Demonstrate personal and professional integrity, reliability, and competence.
• ESEA5 - Be mindful of the Climate Emergency and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
• Independent and critical thinkers
• ICT1 - Identify, define and analyse complex design issues and ideas, exercising critical judgement in your approaches whilst critically evaluating sources of information.
• ICT2 - Demonstrate intellectual curiosity and engage in the pursuit of new knowledge and understanding.
• ICT3 - Investigate problems and effective design solutions, reflecting on and learning from testing success and failures.
• Innovative, enterprising and commercially aware:
• IECA1 - Generate original ideas and apply creative, imaginative and innovative thinking in response to a given design problem.
• IECA2 - Take the initiative to act on own ideas and the ideas of others, balancing risk and returns and making things happen.
• Reflective & Resilient
• RR1 - Actively reflect on own studies, achievements, and self-identity
• RR2 - Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and creativity with challenges, and be open to change based on other opinions. 
• RR3 - Identify and articulate skills, knowledge and understanding confidently through oral and written communication. 
• RR4 - Engage with new ideas, opportunities, and technologies, building knowledge and experience to make informed decisions about own future

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

This module will be assessed via the following summative components:

• A written Design Portfolio, 70%. 15,000 word limit (i.e. about 3,000 words per student) for main body of the report (excluding cover page, abstract, contents and references) plus appendices. In particular, students will use proformas to complete one (of two) elements of the design portfolio worth 45%. The calculations and computer outputs students have used to develop the proformas will be included as appendices. An important aspect, for the portfolio 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. (LO 1-5)

• A Presentation and Viva, 25%. More specifically, on submission of the portfolio groups will complete a video presentation (20 minutes) on the work they completed and the critical commentary. This will be followed by 30 minutes of questions (viva). (LO 1-5)

• An individual reflective summative statement to evaluate personal development gained from the module and reflect on effectiveness of own and team performance (5%) (LO 2). This is a qualifying element of the module.

The group-based summative assessments are used to reflect the relatively complex nature of the tasks, as these typically require an effective team-based approach, while also being aligned with Engineering Council accreditation requirements. All marks are subject to peer review. The peer review outcomes are scrutinised by project supervisors to ensure they are reflective of the team dynamics observed throughout the academic year. 

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT 

Formative assessment is provided throughout the module via regular meetings with the module staff. The first week of a design task being a lecture and task and the second week, a workshop session (Q&A). For each design task, student groups will prepare a completed design proforma (word limited), that includes details of who led the design and who contributed to which area. Each group will be asked to provide feedback to two other groups on their prepared proforma. In addition, the lead staff member of the task will provide further formative feedback.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT

The opportunity for reassessment in this module will be set at component level. The remit of the reassessment will be set by the module staff while also mapped against the module learning outcomes. 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.

• Environmental issues  
• Energy Resource Assessment 
• Structural design  
• Mechanical Design 
• Electrical Aspects  
• Structural Health Monitoring 
• Energy and Environmental impact 
• Costing