Unit 4005 Renewable Energy (R/651/0714 Unit 4005 Renewable Energy Assignment Brief Unit Number 4005 Unit Title Renewable Energy Unit Reference Number R/651/0714 Unit Level 4 Credits 15 Introduction With the increasing concerns regarding climate change arising from increasing carbon dioxide levels and other adverse environmental impacts of industrial processes, there are widespread economic, ethical, legislative and social pressures on engineers to develop technologies and processes that have reduced carbon and environmental impact.
This unit aims to familiarise students with both established and emerging renewable energy resources and technologies. It will delve into current and future storage and generation systems, critically exploring their capabilities and constraints.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to determine the optimum combination of renewable energy technologies and evaluate their efficiencies, describe how to conduct a cost–benefit analysis to determine the most viable option between renewable and conventional energy sources, and consider the relevant political, socio-economic, and legal factors that influence the selection of appropriate energy technologies.
Learning Outcomes By the end of this unit students will be able to:
LO1 Explore potential renewable energy resources and technologies
LO2 Determine the optimum combination and efficiencies of renewable energy technologies for a particular location
LO3 Conduct a cost- benefit analysis to determine the most viable option between renewable and conventional energy sources
LO4 Analyse the socio- economic, legislative, and environmental factors in selecting appropriate renewable energy technologies.
Essential Content LO1 Explore Potential Renewable Energy Resources And Technologies Alternative energy resources, their respective merits, and drawbacks:
Wind energy, ocean and tidal energy, biomass, geothermal energy, hydropower, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal energy, and waste- to- energy. Energy storage and generation technologies (e.g., batteries, hydrogen). LO2 Determine The Optimum Combination And Efficiencies Of Renewable Energy Technologies For A Particular Location Energy demand and security of supply:
Energy consumption changes, intensity and trends (domestic, industrial, transport, and services sectors) Factors affecting changes in energy consumption and demand Future demand planning based on trends and needs analysis Risk analysis for energy supplies for local areas and global regions Energy capacity margins analysis related to changes in demand Alternatives for locally used energy sources. Energy reduction and efficiency approaches:
Energy systems available for a given location Energy legislation and standards Energy saving and reduction schemes, energy saving technologies available Energy efficiency approaches for domestic energy use Grants and government schemes, and the effects of such schemes on supply and demand. Grid Integration Requirements:
Local Grid Code requirements and compliance for integration of the renewable energy assets LO3 Conduct A Cost- Benefit Analysis To Determine The Most Viable Option Between Renewable And Conventional Energy Sources Financial and environmental implications:
Cost-benefit analysis using appropriate tools and techniques Socio-economic factors Financial implications of renewable and conventional energy. LO4 Analyse The Socio- Economic, Legislative, And Environmental Factors In Selecting Appropriate Renewable Energy Technologies. Set- up and operation of renewable technologies:
Socio- economic factors (e.g. UN sustainability goals) Legislative and commercial considerations, including carbon taxes and national and international climate change legislation Environmental factors Evaluation planning tools such as PESTLE analysis Local environmental impact and considerations Waste impact, waste management strategies Contamination issues and society wellbeing. Learning Outcomes And Assessment Criteria Pass Merit Distinction LO1 Explore potential renewable energy resources and technologies P1 Explore potential renewable energy resources suitable for your local area and their working principles with the aid of diagrams. M1 Analyse storage technologies and their advantages and disadvantages in relation to at least three different forms of renewable energy.
D1 Evaluate a wide variety of renewable energy resources, with innovative insights into their potential future usage. LO2 Determine the optimum combination and efficiencies of renewable energy technologies for a particular location P2 Determine the most efficient combination of renewable energy technologies for a specified location. M2 Analyse the location’s specific environmental and geographical factors and how they relate to the efficiency of different renewable energy technologies.
D2 Propose an innovative, well-justified combination of renewable energy technologies for the specific location, taking into account not only efficiency but also factors such as sustainability, cost-effectiveness and societal impact. Pass Merit Distinction LO3 Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the most viable option between renewable and conventional energy sources P3 Conduct cost-benefit analysis that considers the direct costs and benefits of both renewable and conventional energy sources. M3 Effectively incorporate indirect costs and benefits such as environmental impacts and potential societal benefits and drawbacks into the cost-benefit analysis. D3 Present a thorough and nuanced cost–benefit analysis that considers both short-term and long-term impacts, as well as contingencies and uncertainties, with a wellargued recommendation based on the analysis. LO4 Analyse the socio-economic, legislative, and environmental factors in selecting appropriate renewable energy technologies. P4 Analyse how socioeconomic, legislative, and environmental factors influence the selection of appropriate renewable energy technologies, for a given local context. M4 Provide a detailed analysis of specific socioeconomic, legislative, and environmental factors and their impact on selecting renewable energy technologies in a global context. D4 Evaluate the impact of socio-economic, legislative and environmental factors on selecting renewable energy technologies, using relevant, real-world examples and forecasting potential future trends.
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