Explore UCD

UCD Home >

EEEN40110

Academic Year 2024/2025

Renewable Energy Systems (EEEN40110)

Subject:
Electronic & Electrical Eng
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Electrical & Electronic Eng
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Georgios Tzounas
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Background and context: Basic energy concepts. The Sun. Solar spectral flux. Earth's atmosphere. Terrestrial emissions of energy. Earth's mean global energy budget. Greenhouse effect. Global warming and climate change. Energy trends in Ireland. Economics and environmental impact of renewable energy projects.

Wind power meteorology: Power in the wind. Wind measurements. Turbulence. Windshear. Wind variability. Statistics of wind. Wind resource estimation and wind power forecasting using statistical and physical modelling methods. Wind power production estimation.

Wind turbine aerodynamics and regulation: Wind turbine concepts. Momentum theory and Betz limit. Blade element theory. Wind turbine optimum performance. Stall and pitch regulation.

Wind generator systems and grid integration: Wind turbine generator options. Electrical layout of wind turbine and wind farm (WF). Grid integration of WFs to distribution and transmission systems. Electrical aspects of offshore WFs. WFs as power plants.

Hydro: Hydrological cycle. Resource estimation. Analysis of selected hydro turbines.

Photovoltaic: Solar geometry and resource estimation. PV physics. PV cell characteristics and equivalent circuit. Optimum power operation. PV systems. Integration of PV systems into distribution grids.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:
(1) Understand and explain the physical concepts underlying the sources of the Earth's renewable energy resources, the enhanced greenhouse effect and the Earth's global mean energy balance.
(2) Understand and explain the trends in Ireland's supply and demand for energy and the role of renewable energy.
(3) Compare and contrast the resource availability, techno-economic viability and environmental impact of selected renewable energy technologies.
(4) Understand and explain the concepts underlying the statistical analysis of selected renewable energy resources.
(5) Analyse selected renewable energy resources.
(6) Understand and explain the concepts underlying the operation and performance of selected renewable energy systems.
(7) Understand and explain the underlying concepts associated with the impact of selected renewable energy generating systems on electricity supply networks.
(8) Analyse the impact of selected renewable energy generating systems on electricity supply networks.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Lectures

30
Tutorial

3
Practical

3
Total

116

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures that blend theory and exercises. One assignment plus one technical essay on renewable energy topic.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Electrical engineering to the level of EEEN30070


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
BSEN40280 - Energy Conversion & Storage, BSEN40330 - Energy Systems&Sustainable Env, BSEN40340 - Bioenergy Conversion Processes, BSEN40350 - Renewable Energy Syst Analysis, CPSC40330 - Energy Systems&Sustainable Env

Equivalents:
Wind Energy (EEEN40400)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Class test Week 7 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Group Work Assignment: Technical report and presentation on renewable energy topic Week 9 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Continuous Assessment: Assignment Week 6 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Exam (In-person): End of trimester examination End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 14:00 - 14:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.