Renewable Energy Engineering Masters (MSc)

Climate change is a major challenge for the 21st century, requiring an alternative supply of cleaner energy from renewable sources. This course, accredited by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), is designed with an engineering focus that deals with applications, combined with the business element; applicable whether you work for a large organisation or a small- to medium-size enterprise.

• The programme provides hands-on skills in 3D CAD and solid modelling, FEA and CFD analysis, Polysun and WindPRO simulations using industry-standard software.
• You can undertake a wide range of challenging and interesting sponsored and non-sponsored projects in the specific areas of wind power, solar power, biofuels and fuel-cells-related technologies.
• Excellent career progression and internship with leading renewable companies: around 80% of students who have graduated from this programme have been recruited by the relevant industries as a consultant such as Atkins, Alstom Power, Inditex, Vattenfall, Shell, SGS UK Ltd and many others.
• Completion of this programme would be an ideal progression to PhD level of research studies if you are interested in following an academic or research career in novel areas of renewable energy.

What will you study?

The course provides an in-depth knowledge of renewable energy systems design and development, commercial and technical consultancy and project management within the sustainable engineering environment.

You will gain technical skills in and knowledge of solar power, wind power, biofuel and fuel cell technologies, as well as renewable energy business and management. In addition, you will gain practical skills in up-to-date computer-aided simulation technologies such as Polysun for solar energy applications, WindPRO for wind farm applications and ECLIPSE for biomass applications.

Option modules enable you to specialise in project engineering and management, as well as risk management or engineering design and development. Advanced topics, such as 3D solid modelling, computer-aided product development and simulation, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and simulation allow you to gain further practical and theoretical knowledge of analytical software tools used in product design.

This degree has been accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council, as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an accredited CEng (Partial) BEng(Hons) degree.

Those students with an IEng accredited, or unaccredited, undergraduate degree will have their undergraduate programme modules reviewed by IMechE, upon completion of this MSc, and may be required to take further learning (if any) for CEng registration.

See www.imeche.org for further information.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Please check the Engineering Council course search for more information.

You will have the opportunity to study a foreign language for free during your time at the University as part of the Kingston Language Scheme. Options currently include: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Core modules

• Biomass and Fuel Cell Renewable Technology

• Biomass and Fuel Cell Renewable Technology

  This broad-based module comprehensively examines:

  • biomass and fuel cell technology;
  • the principle engineering methodologies for producing biomass ;
  • fuel cell energy as a prime source of power; 
  • the relevant applications for renewable energy generation;
  • how the design and manufacturing processes involved may be applied in the development and optimisation of new and innovative renewable energy systems; and
  • some of the key issues relating to environmental concern as well as biomass and fuel cell policy.

  The module is primarily delivered through formal lectures and practical laboratory sessions, supported by case studies and tutorials, with comprehensive course material available via StudySpace.

   

  
   
• Solar Power Engineering

• Solar Power Engineering

  This core module provides a detailed examination of the solar energy conversion process, system design and application. The comprehensive content considers:

  • how the principles of solar energy, as a prime source of power, can be utilised in the design, development and manufacture of relevant energy systems and technologies;
  • current and future technological requirements; and
  • the key issues and influences surrounding solar energy deployment.

  Core factual material is primarily delivered through lectures and supported by tutorials, with comprehensive course material available via StudySpace.

  
   
• Wind Power Engineering

• Wind Power Engineering

  The comprehensive content of this module examines:

  • the measurement and assessment of wind resources; together with
  • the principles and technology of machines used in the generation of power from the wind, including:
    • their aerodynamics;
    • the aero-elastic;
    • fatigue characteristics of their materials; and
    • the operation of ancillary equipment, including gear boxes and electrical machines.

  The module also considers the latest developments and technical progress of wind-powered installations and covers all aspects of life-time project management, including:

  • planning and public acceptance;
  • costing and financial incentives;
  • technologies; and
  • plant operation, including maintenance and power system integration.

  The module is primarily delivered through lectures and practical laboratory sessions, supported by tutorials, with comprehensive course material available via StudySpace.

  
   
• Individual Project

• Individual Project

  This module allows you to put what you have learnt during the course into practical implementation of some forms –through using a mix of experimentation, research and literature review – to provide solutions or feasible recommendations to specific industrial problems.

  
   

Option modules

• Engineering Projects and Risk Management
• Computational Fluid Dynamics for Engineering Applications
• Computer-aided Product Development

Learn more about the facilities available to you as a student of this course.

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