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Overview
What does a sustainable energy system look like? How might renewable energy provide a much greater proportion of our energy needs in the coming decades? Which technologies and designs for the various renewable energy sources will we rely on to help us decarbonise our energy systems and maintain a secure supply of affordable electricity and heat? In this Renewable Energy module at The Open University UK you’ll explore these questions by systematically reviewing the eight main renewable energy technologies. With the help of study guides, you will develop your ability to apply this knowledge practically – especially for solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and wind.
You will learn
By the end of the module you will be able to understand and describe the:
- basic principles underlying the design and use of renewable energy supply systems and their implications for energy sustainability
- main factors that determine the economic, social and environmental viability of the principal renewable energy systems.
You will also be able to:
- use appropriate scientific and mathematical techniques relevant to the assessment of renewable energy technologies in terms of their technical potential to contribute to energy supply
- critically assess the contribution that renewable energy technologies can make to the overall sustainability of energy systems at different scales
- undertake basic economic analyses of proposed or existing renewable energy projects using spreadsheet-based models of energy systems.
Programme Structure
Module
- Energy in buildings – how energy is used in domestic buildings and how its use can be reduced with insulation and more efficient heating systems.
- Solar thermal energy – provides a detailed overview of the physics of solar heat and how this may be captured in a variety of different ways, as well as the complex topic of passive solar heating.
- Solar photovoltaics – a structured introduction to this critical technology starting with the physics of crystalline silicon through to issues of integration and future prospects.
- Bioenergy – various bioenergy products and processes are illustrated with a range of practical examples examining the factors likely to affect uptake of bioenergy systems.
- Hydroelectricity
- Tidal power
- Wind energy
- Wave energy
- Deep geothermal energy
- Integrating renewable energy and renewable energy futures
Key information
Duration
- Part-time
- 8 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before
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Language
English
Credits
30 alternative credits
Delivered
Online
Disciplines
Energy Engineering Sustainable Energy View 8 other Short Courses in Energy Engineering in United KingdomAcademic requirements
We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.
English requirements
We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.
Other requirements
General requirements
- This is an OU level 3 module. OU level 3 modules build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at OU levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject.
- Studying the OU level 2 module Energy and sustainability (T213) will give you the necessary background and skills for this module.
Tuition Fee
To always see correct tuition fees
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International
1614 GBP/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1614 GBP for the full programme during 8 months. -
National
1614 GBP/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 1614 GBP for the full programme during 8 months.
Funding
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