List of Potential Topics for Journal Review Fall 2018

MEC E 643 - Renewable Energy Engineering and Sustainability

Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Alberta

Hydro

1. Hydro power production using salinity gradients – Osmotic head

2. Wave power production: technology opportunities in North America
3. One the following two
a. Off shore combined hydro and wind power production, production technologies,
opportunities, and barriers
b. Basic calculation methodology for estimating the energy requirement of a small
farm (including one family and their house) to be met by small micro-hydro. The
discussion should INCLUDE basic ideas about component sizing, technologies,
challenges, opportunities, environmental attributes, etc.

Wind

4. Sate of the wind industry in Canada and Alberta: past, future trends, standards,
opportunities and barriers. (the topic is centered on the utility scale)
5. The latest blade technologies for large wind power production
6. Energy storage technologies and other solutions to overcome intermittency of the wind
power systems.
7. One the following
a. Basic calculation methodology for estimating the energy requirement of a typical
200 sq. meter house to be met by small wind. The discussion should INCLUDE
basic ideas about component sizing, technologies, challenges, opportunities,
environmental attributes, etc.
b. Analysis of policies of Ontario government about wind power generation. The
analysis should center on chances of stirring technology development and/or
power production… chances of success or flaws in the polices. Compare and
contrast with two other jurisdictions, one is North America (e.g. California) and
one in another part of the world (e.g. Germany).

Geothermal

8. Analysis of Iceland’s success with geothermal energy from technology, economical, and
social perspectives; and replication potential elsewhere.
9. State of the geothermal industry in Canada and Alberta: past, future trends, standards,
opportunities and barriers. (the topic can be on the utility scale or buildings)
10. One the following

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 a. Basic calculation methodology for estimating the energy requirement of a typical
200 sq. meter house to be met by geothermal (either the case of heating or cooling
should be discussed). The discussion should INCLUDE basic ideas about
component sizing, technologies, challenges, opportunities, environmental
attributes, etc.
b. Compare the energy characteristics, magnitude, reliability and environmental
impact (basic LCA) of a good oil well at 8000 bbl/day to a good hot rock
geothermal well (quantify and justify a “good” hot rock well).
c. Labor training for a renewable future!

Hydrogen

11. Hydrogen technology for powering portable devices - technologies, challenges, future
12. Hydrogen storage technologies for transportation, specifically cars and aviation.
13. One the following
a. State of the hydrogen related industry in Canada: production & Technology
providers

Bioheat & Biopower

14. Genetic engineering trends in biomass production and usage

15. Algae energy production for colder climates
16. Production of biomaterials and bioenergy in a biorefinery
17. One the following
a. Basic calculation methodology for estimating the energy requirement of a small
dairy (or pig) farm (including one family and their house) to be met by
bioheat/biopower. The discussion should INCLUDE basic ideas about component
sizing, technologies, challenges, opportunities, environmental attributes, etc.
b. Biofuel for aviation: an analysis of current trends, challenges, and CO2 issues

Solar energy

18. Solar Thermal technology for large scale power production

19. Solar thermal chimney technology both for home and power production (technology
description, advantage & disadvantages)
20. One the following
a. Basic calculation methodology for estimating the energy requirement of a typical
200 sq. meter house to be met by solar power (either the case of electrical or
thermal solar should be discussed). The discussion should INCLUDE basic ideas
about component sizing, technologies, challenges, opportunities, environmental
attributes, etc.
b. Analysis of policies of Ontario government about solar power. The analysis
should center on chances of stirring technology development and/or power
production… chances of success or flaws in the polices. Compare and contrast

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 with two other jurisdictions, one is North America (e.g. California) and one in
another part of the world (e.g. Germany).

Nuclear

21. Recent advances and initiatives in fusion technologies

22. Modular nuclear technology
23. Waste management technologies and future
24. Non-proliferation and growth of nuclear power usage
25. One the following
a. What would it take to revive the nuclear industry in Canada
b. Analysis of nuclear debate in UK, with comparison and contrast with USA and
Canada
c. Nuclear power option for oil sands
d. Zero emission plants (non-nuclear)

Carbon capture and storage

26. Status of carbon capture and storage around the world (case studies)
27. Transport and storage of CO2 and its forms
28. What are the possibilities of CO2 utilization?

Sustainability issues
29. Paris Climate Talks – a success or a failure?
30. Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan – An analysis