BEEE612 

Module Name Renewable Energy Systems 
 Module Code BEEE612 
Level Six 
 Credits 15 

  

  

Module Description and General Aims 

Sustainable energy is a concept which needs to be reinforced in the interest of preserving the environment and is going to continue to be a significant focus area for future decades. The objective of this module is to augment the knowledge imparted in the earlier module (BEE210S) on power generation and impart a detailed knowledge of the design and planning of power generation using renewable sources. This module aims to provide students with sufficient knowledge about renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, hydro, tidal, geothermal and biomass. A particular focus will be given to wind and photovoltaic energy systems as they will be covered in detail. Associated power electronic converters and controllers for wind and photovoltaic power generation systems will also be covered in this module. Students will be also introduced to distributed generations and their economics. Students will be able to practice their design skills in renewable energy systems by undertaking a project covering the design of wind or solar for a hypothetical location, starting from the details of collecting and verifying data, sizing of the wind turbine or solar panel units, selecting suitable locations within the farm, and interconnection with the power grid.  

  

Learning Outcomes 

On successful completion of this Module, students are expected to be able to: 

  1. Demonstrate understanding of the components and operation of different renewable energy technologies.  

Bloom’s Level 2 

  1. Evaluate solutions to engineering problems associated to renewable energy by simulating and calculating the power generation from different renewable energy technologies. 

Bloom’s Level 5 

  1. Apply technical knowledge to examine the performance of other renewable/non-polluting technologies such as geothermal, tidal, wave energy, and fuel cells. 

Bloom’s Level 4 

  1. Analyse the design of common renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal systems, wind energy systems, and hydrogen-based power generation and justify the role of energy storage systems. 

Bloom’s Level 5 

  1. Discuss the performance of distributed generation systems and solve common technical problems associated with DG. 

Bloom’s Level 6 

  

Student Assessment 

Assessment Type When assessed Weighting (% of total module marks) Learning Outcomes Assessed 
Assessment 1 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation Example Topic: Thermal and hydro-electric power generation. Students will complete a quiz with MCQ type answers to 30 questions to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of thermal and hydro-electric power generation systems/equipment. Due after Topic 4 15% 1, 2 
Assessment 2 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation Example Topic: New types of renewable energy technologies including harnessing solar energy. Students will complete a test with about 20 questions of numerical problems and short answer questions (each to be answered in less than 100 words and explanatory diagrams) to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of various new types of renewable power sources and also solar power harnessing methods. Due after Topic 7 25% 1, 2,  
Assessment 3 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation / Project / Report Example Topic: A project covering the design of a wind farm for a hypothetical location, starting from the details of collecting and verifying data, sizing of wind turbine units, selecting suitable locations within the farm, and interconnection with the power grid. Compare this with a solar power solution. After Topic 10 15% 3, 4,5 
Assessment 4 Type: Examination An examination with a mix of detailed essay type questions and numerical problems. Final Week 40% All 
Attendance / Tutorial Participation Example: Presentation, discussion, group work, exercises, self-assessment/reflection, case study analysis, application. Continuous 5% – 

  

Overall Requirements: Students must achieve a result of 40% or above in the exam itself to pass the exam and must pass the exam to be able to pass the module. An overall final module score of 50% or above must be achieved to pass the module once all assessment, including the exam, has been completed. 

Prescribed and Recommended Readings 

Required textbook(s) 

Gilbert M. Masters, “Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems” John Wiley & Sons 2013 

Reference Materials 

  • Chaplin R, 2009, Thermal Power Plants Edited by Robin Chaplin, EOLSS Publishers, UK, 
  • B. Wu, Y. Lang, N. Zargari and S. Kouro, “Power Conversion and control of Wind energy systems” IEEE-Wiley, 2011. 
  • Gilbert M. Masters “Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems, 2013, Wiley-IEEE.  
  • Weidong Xiao, “Photovoltaic Power System: Modeling, Design and Control” Wiley, 2017 
  • Zobaa A & Bansal R (eds), 2011, Handbook of Renewable Energy Technology, World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd. ISBN 13-978-981-4289-06-1Leon Freris, “Renewable Energy in Power Systems” Wiley; 2 edition 2019 
  • Mehmet Kanoglu, Yunus A. Cengel, John M. Cimbala, “Fundamentals and Applications of Renewable Energy” McGraw-Hill Education; 1st edition 2020.  
  • Anthony L. Rogers, James F. Manwell, and Jon G. McGowan, “Wind Energy Explained: Theory, Design and Application” Wiley 2010.  
  • John Twidell, “Renewable Energy Resources” Routledge; 4th edition 2021 
  • B. Wu, Y. Lang, N. Zargari and S. Kouro, “Power Conversion and control of Wind energy systems” IEEE-Wiley, 2011. 
  • Weidong Xiao, “Photovoltaic Power System: Modleing, Design and Control” Wiley, 2017 

References from the Internet: 

An example: 
http://www.triplepundit.com/2014/03/transparent-solar-panels/: Transparent Panels Signal the Future of the Solar Industry by Mary Mazzoni on Thursday, Mar 27th, 2014. 

  

Module Content 

  

  

Topic 1 

Hydroelectric power – 1 

1. Introduction to hydroelectric power 
2. Hydraulic engineering 
3. Calculating the power generation potential of a water resource 
4. Run-of-river schemes with particular reference to mini/micro hydro power plants 
5. Hydraulic structures and their function 
6. Flow control methods 
 

  

Topic 2   

Hydroelectric power – 2 

1. Types of water turbines and applications2.Turbine selection criteria 
3. Turbine efficiency and performance 
4. Pumped storage option for demand management 
5. Environmental problems posed by large hydropower plants 
6. Reservoir-induced seismicity 
7. Seismic design of dams 
8. Electrical generator and associated equipment for hydro-plants 

  

Topic 3  

Solar power applications -1  

1. Historical overview 
2. Solar heat as an energy source 
3. Power generation using steam generation units operating on solar heat 
4. Photovoltaic basics 
5. Modern PV cells 
6. PV characteristics 
  

Topic 4 

Solar power applications – 2 

1. Cell design 
2. Maximising power output 
3. Solar power module arrangement 
4. Tracking systems (single and dual axis) 
5. A complete solar system with inverter and storage battery 
6. Electrical system design and grid tie 
7. Future of solar energy using polymer cells and transparent-coatings as solar power sources 

Topic 5  

Wind power -1  

1. Historical overview 
2. Wind power data collection and evaluation 
3. Wind turbine technology options 
4. Horizontal and vertical axis turbines 
5. Turbine components 
6. Wind turbine blade design 
   

  

Topic 6  

Wind power -2  

1. Turbine output calculation 
2. Citing a wind farm for the maximum benefit 
3. Offshore wind turbine option 
4. Wind turbine control 
5. Tower and turbine design 

Topic 7  

Wind power -3  

1. Types of generators used 
2. Power Electronics for variable frequency generators used in wind turbines 
3. Wind farm site selection and environmental issues 
4. Grid interface for wind farms 

 
Topic 8 

Other renewable/clean energy generation methods  

1. Geothermal power extraction cycle 
2. Equipment used in geo-thermal plants and special requirements 
3. Tidal energy plants and their design features 
4. Turbine types for use in tide basins 
5. Wave energy plants 
6. Biomass-types and ways of utilisation 
7. Anaerobic digestors for animal and human waste 
8. Biomass gasifiers for agro waste 
9. Ethanol fuels from agro-products/by-products 
10. Biofuels in liquid form (Bio-Diesel) 
 

Topic 9 

Applications of Green Hydrogen  

1. Hydrogen properties 

2. Hydrogen production and green hydrogen 

3. Hydrogen storage  

4. Hydrogen as a fuel 
5. Fuel cells general principles and different types 
6. Comparison of efficiencies and performance 

7. Hydrogen refuelling stations 

8. Hydrogen in renewable integration 

Topic 10 

Energy Storage in Renewable Integration 

  1. Pumped hydro storage 
  1. Battery types and storage 
  1. Hydrogen based energy storage 

Topic 11 

Distributed generation and its economics in today’s scenario 

1. Cost of solar power 
2. Cost of wind power generation 
3. Technical problems faced by an electric grid with large scale embedded systems (voltage problems) 
4. Wind power interconnection with the grid (power factor problems) 
5. Incentives for wheeling of wind power through a grid 
6. Scheduling solar and wind power sources in an integrated way in a power grid 
7. Storage as a key technology area for large scale deployment of renewable power sources 

  

Topic 12 

Module Review 

In the final week, students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered so far. Opportunity will be provided for a review of student work and to clarify any outstanding issues. Instructors/facilitators may choose to cover a specialized topic if applicable to that cohort. 

  

Software/Hardware Used 

Software 

  • Software: PowerFactory; Homer etc 
  • Version: N/A 
  • Instructions:  N/A 
  • Additional resources or files: N/A 

Hardware 

  • N/A