Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Module overview

The aims of this module are to:

• Develop an understanding of social, environmental and economic aspects of energy production and usage, and provide an introduction to alternative energy sources.

Objectives (planned learning outcomes)

Knowledge and understanding

Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Historical development of energy production and usage
• Exploitation of fossil fuel resources
• Fuel cycles and link to environmental impact
• Origins of the renewable energy sources
• Alternative energy systems such as hydrogen economy
• A general introduction to solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and ocean energy

Intellectual skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:

• Discuss fuel substitution in terms of logistic theory
• Examine fossil fuel depletion by Hubbert's theory
• Analyse environmental impact of energy technologies

General transferable (key) skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:

• Develop analytical skills based on observed data
• Apply theoretical techniques to real-life situations

Energy usage in an industrial society: Historical introduction. Sankey diagram, energy sectors. Integration. CHP

Fossil fuels: Reserves and resources. Hubbert's theory of resource depletion. Fuel cycles: coal, oil & gas. Environmental impact.

Introduction to nuclear energy: An overview of reactor operation. Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents. Nuclear fuel cycle and environmental impact.

Earth energy flows: Radiative energy balance of the earth, the greenhouse effect. Global circulation of air in the atmosphere.

A brief overview of renewables: Solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and ocean energy.
Hydrogen economy

Seminars on diverse energy topics (according to speaker availability)

Teaching methods include

• 24 lectures, revision classes, seminars and visits which develop the themes described in this module.

Learning activities include

• Individual study of social, environmental or economic aspects of energy
• Discussions during/after seminars

Books

D. MacKay, Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air. Can be downloaded from www.withouthotair.com

J.E. Allen: Energy Resources for a Changing World (Cambridge UP, 1992)

I. Dostrovsky: Energy and the Missing Resource (Cambridge UP, 1988)

L.E.J. Roberts, P.S. Liss and P.A.H.Saunders, Power Generation and the Environment (Oxford UP, 1990).

E.L.McFarlane, J.L.Hunt, J.L.Cambell, Energy, Physics and the Environment (Wuerz Publishing, 1994)

R.A. Ristinen and J.J. Kraushar, Energy and the Environment (Wiley, 1998)

G.J. Aubrecht, Energy (Prentice Hall, 1995) Scientific American (special issue): Scientific Technology and Social Change.

Web sites

UK energy statistics http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/dukes/dukes.aspx

BP Statistical review of world energy http://www.bp.com/productlanding.do?categoryId=6929&contentId=7044622

International Energy Agency http://www.iea.org/

UNDP Energy Policy http://www.undp.org/energy/publications/2000/2000a.htm

Course resources on Blackboard http://blackboard.soton.ac.uk/

Feedback and student support during module study (formative assessment)

• Revision questions available at the web site form the basis for informal work
• Lecturer available after lecture and during supervision/revision classes

Relationship between the teaching, learning and assessment methods and the planned learning outcomes

The revision/supervision classes aim to strengthen understanding and prepare students for the examination which test the understanding of the underlying concepts and methodologies. Case study aims to enhance students' ability to apply the taught material to a practical situation, and consolidate their knowledge.