Unit information: Wind Energy Systems in 2024/25

Unit name Wind Energy Systems
Unit code AENGM0081
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Poole
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

Climate change, driven by man-made increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, is one of the most important factors in governmental policy making globally. This is set against the backdrop of global population increase (which is set to reach 11 billion by the end of the century, according to the UN) and the continual increase in global living standards, causing an exponential increase in the desire for energy. As such, a substantial drive in the development of low-emission energy production methods is ongoing.

In the UK, achieving ‘Net-Zero’ requires a substantial increase in renewable energy production. The largest contributor to renewable energy production is wind. Ambitious government targets for installed wind energy capacity mean next-generation engineers are required to help achieve such targets. Instruction on renewable energy systems is therefore a key aspect of Engineering degrees, and this unit provides students with an advanced knowledge of wind energy systems.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

This unit provides an M-level instruction on a specific topic key to sustainability in energy production; wind energy systems. The unit supplements introductory and advanced topics in wind energy, covering wind turbines and wind farms, with expert industrial input. This gives students both a high level of technical understanding and exposure to commercial knowledge and expertise.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

The unit is split into two primary streams. The first stream provides an introduction to wind energy systems to instruct students on engineering considerations in wind energy across multiple disciplines. This is in addition to developing an understanding of commercial and political issues in wind energy. The second stream covers advanced modelling techniques, and balances developing a technical understanding of modelling methods commonly used in wind energy with a hands-on approach.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

This unit provides a pillar of sustainability, and how this relates to engineering. Students will learn about wind energy systems and will be expected to perform design of such systems for typical industrial design problems. This unit therefore takes a holistic approach to the development of next-generation engineers working in sustainability.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the unit the student should be able to:

  1. Recognise and discuss the engineering drivers that affect the design of wind energy systems;
  2. Explain how wind energy systems operate, and explain how the performance of a wind energy system is determined;
  3. Utilising modelling tools, analyse the performance and perform subsequent design of wind energy systems, while evaluating the applicability of these processes and tools.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, which may include lectures, practical activities supported by drop-in sessions, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Preparation for summative assessment is from a combination of practice questions and interactive laboratory sessions with direct, immediate feedback.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

25% - Online test (assessing ILO 1,2)

75% - Coursework (assessing ILO 1,3)

When assessment does not go to plan

Reassessment will occur during the reassessment period to assess failed ILOs, if appropriate to the student’s programme of study.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. AENGM0081).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.