Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School: Engineering
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Sustainable EnergyUnit Code
ENS2118Year
2015Enrolment Period
1Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
Description
This unit considers the central role of energy in our modern technological society. It examines some of the major controversies concerning the choice of different energy technologies and their technical, social and political contexts. Scenarios for future sustainable energy use are explored. This unit also provides opportunities for students to increase their level of technical literacy concerning energy generation and use.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Analyse the relationships between the control, distribution and costs of energy resources and the structure of urban societies.
- Describe the major types of energy resources utilised by human societies and evaluate their benefits and costs.
- Discuss scenarios for future sustainable energy use.
- Select information sources and apply scientific methodology to implement an energy research project.
- Use appropriate data to estimate the full life-cycle efficiency of energy collection and consumption.
Unit Content
- Basic energy concepts, forms of energy. Units of measurement - scientific/industrial. Efficiency of energy transformation.
- Earth's energy budget, historical and current patterns of human energy utilisations, human energy requirements, major energy sources.
- Electric power generation and transmission - fossil fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal.
- Energy resources, reserves, and energy needs; fossil fuel extraction and use in power generation, transport, industry, commerce and homes.
- Energy sources for transportation, heat engines - internal and external combustion, fuel types and sources.
- Future developments in energy sources and energy storage.
- Impacts of fossil fuel usage - air pollution, fuel residuals and climate, resource depletion and energy costs.
- Impacts of the nuclear energy industry - diversion of fuel, waste disposal, nuclear accidents, decommissioning of nuclear power stations.
- Improving energy efficiency - utilising waste heat, improved building and urban design, optimising transportation methods.
- Renewable energy technologies, solar/wind/hydroelectric/geothermal power, present and future advantages and limitations.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, tutorials and site visits.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Assignment | Energy system life-cycle analysis | 20% |
| Report | Research project report | 30% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 50% |
Text References
- ^ Hinrichs, R. A. & Kleinbach, M. (2012). Energy: Its use and the environment (5th ed.). Canada: Thomson Brooks-Cole.
- Tester, J.W., Drake, E.M., Driscoll, M.J., Golay, M.W., & Peters, W.A. (2012). Sustainable energy. Choosing among options (2nd ed.). Massachusetts: MIT Press.
- Nelson, V. (2011). Introduction to renewable energy. London: CRC Press.
- Kaltschmitt, M., Streicher, W., Wiese, A. (2007). Renewable energy. Technology, economics and environment. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
- Da Rosa, A.V. (2013). Fundamentals of renewable energy processes (3rd ed.). Oxford: Elsevier.
- Demirel, Y. (2012). Energy. Production, conversion, storage, conservation and coupling. London: Springer-Verlag.
^ Mandatory reference
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
ENS2118|1|1
Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science
School: Engineering
This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.
Unit Title
Sustainable EnergyUnit Code
ENS2118Year
2015Enrolment Period
2Version
1Credit Points
15Full Year Unit
N
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Description
This unit considers the central role of energy in our modern technological society. It examines some of the major controversies concerning the choice of different energy technologies and their technical, social and political contexts. Scenarios for future sustainable energy use are explored. This unit also provides opportunities for students to increase their level of technical literacy concerning energy generation and use.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
- Analyse the relationships between the control, distribution and costs of energy resources and the structure of urban societies.
- Describe the major types of energy resources utilised by human societies and evaluate their benefits and costs.
- Discuss scenarios for future sustainable energy use.
- Select information sources and apply scientific methodology to implement an energy research project.
- Use appropriate data to estimate the full life-cycle efficiency of energy collection and consumption.
Unit Content
- Basic energy concepts, forms of energy. Units of measurement - scientific/industrial. Efficiency of energy transformation.
- Earth's energy budget, historical and current patterns of human energy utilisations, human energy requirements, major energy sources.
- Electric power generation and transmission - fossil fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal.
- Energy resources, reserves, and energy needs; fossil fuel extraction and use in power generation, transport, industry, commerce and homes.
- Energy sources for transportation, heat engines - internal and external combustion, fuel types and sources.
- Future developments in energy sources and energy storage.
- Impacts of fossil fuel usage - air pollution, fuel residuals and climate, resource depletion and energy costs.
- Impacts of the nuclear energy industry - diversion of fuel, waste disposal, nuclear accidents, decommissioning of nuclear power stations.
- Improving energy efficiency - utilising waste heat, improved building and urban design, optimising transportation methods.
- Renewable energy technologies, solar/wind/hydroelectric/geothermal power, present and future advantages and limitations.
Additional Learning Experience Information
Lectures, tutorials and site visits.
Assessment
GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units
Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.
ON CAMPUS| Type | Description | Value |
|---|
| Assignment | Energy system life-cycle analysis | 20% |
| Report | Research project report | 30% |
| Examination | End of semester examination | 50% |
Text References
- ^ Hinrichs, R. A. & Kleinbach, M. (2012). Energy: Its use and the environment (5th ed.). Canada: Thomson Brooks-Cole.
- Kaltschmitt, M., Streicher, W., Wiese, A. (2007). Renewable energy. Technology, economics and environment. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
- Demirel, Y. (2012). Energy. Production, conversion, storage, conservation and coupling. London: Springer-Verlag.
- Da Rosa, A.V. (2013). Fundamentals of renewable energy processes (3rd ed.). Oxford: Elsevier.
- Tester, J.W., Drake, E.M., Driscoll, M.J., Golay, M.W., & Peters, W.A. (2012). Sustainable energy. Choosing among options (2nd ed.). Massachusetts: MIT Press.
- Nelson, V. (2011). Introduction to renewable energy. London: CRC Press.
^ Mandatory reference
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
Academic Misconduct
Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- plagiarism;
- unauthorised collaboration;
- cheating in examinations;
- theft of other students' work;
Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.
The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.
ENS2118|1|2
