Foundations of Energy

This module aims to give a very broad overview into the range of issues relevant to energy as a commodity. Given the vast range of topics and disciplines this covers; it will miss out many important aspects but the aim is to equip the students with enough background information to engage fully with the more detailed modules which follow in the programme. The intended learning outcomes (ILOs) are:

• Revision of the basic engineering sciences underpinning all aspects of Energy, namely thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and electrical power generation, and put those into context of basic energy conversion technologies.

• Overview over current energy resources, including fossil fuels & renewable resources and gain a broad appreciation of the global and national patterns of energy use.

• The impacts of energy use on society and the environment will be introduced, as well as issues of appropriate energy use, energy saving and energy efficiency will be addressed.

• The main current activities to formulate and implement global and national policies will be addressed.