Teaching, Learning and Assessment

A number of teaching and assessment methods are used during the course. Lectures A lecture at Durham is fifty minutes long and typically you will attend about six lectures per week (with many more during the fundamentals course) in addition to your design and project work. The style of lecturing varies, depending on the member of staff and the material to be covered. Some lectures include lots of group participation and others take a more traditional style, giving a coherent and lucid explanation of a complex theory. Problem Sheets and Office Hours For the taught courses lecturers will produce engineering problems for you to solve. Each member of lecturing staff is available for two hours a week for one to one discussions with students. These sessions are ideal opportunities for you to ask the questions that will help you in your studies and to ask questions about the problems if you find them challenging.

Design Teaching Design is an integrating feature of the course and you undertake a major design project in the first term. As in any real world situation design work in conducted in teams and part of the learning experience is how you work with other members of the group. Computer Based Classes Engineers use computers more often than they use pens. There are some formal computer based classes during the year, but some skills like using 3D CAD packages are often based upon self-teaching materials. The computer lab is available for you to use Engineering software but we recommend that students purchase their own laptop. Assessment Methods A variety of assessment methods are used including not only formal, timed written examinations but also marked presentations, laboratory and design reports and other assignments associated with your lecture courses. The research project is assessed by means of a written report and an oral examination in which you get to discuss your work with two members of academic staff.

Facilities
During the fundamentals module you will undertake formal Laboratory classes which make use of real engineering devices such as pumps, motors and generators to give you a much better appreciation of how well Engineering theory does (and doesn't!) work in practical engineering applications. Laboratory classes cover the major renewable energy devices such as generators, control systems and the basics of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. Students also make use our extensive research facilities during their research projects.

Together well create your future

MSc NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Career Prospects
The majority of our graduates go on to an Engineering career, where the Durham degree is a respected qualification. Management and finance are other popular options as a numerate, rigorous and challenging degree prepares you for more than just an Engineering career. Further postgraduate qualifications are also a popular choice.

MSc NRE Calendar

September October November December Start of Fundamentals module Start of taught courses. Start of MSc Design Project Final Presentation and hand in of MSc Design Report. Start of Research Project. Finish taught courses. Examinations for taught courses. Hand in of Research Project and oral examination. R&D Project Viva

Student Profile
Name: Quinn Ho Graduated: 2009 Nationality: New Zealand Employer: Senergy (Aberdeen) I completed my undergraduate engineering degree in New Zealand and after working for the national power company there for 2 years I decided to study overseas. I applied successfully for the MSc New and Renewable Energy Engineering course here at Durham. This course combined my concern for the environment and the future of our planet with my professional interest in engineering.

January Easter May/June August September

www.durham.ac.uk/ecs
Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of going to press in September 2011. However, changes may occur and Durham University reserves the right to amend or change any information contained in this brochure at any time. Copyright Durham University 2011 Durham University and the Durham University Logo are registered trade marks of the University of Durham trading as Durham University. All rights reserved. Produced by ECS Admissions Team, Durham University with hpmgroup.

New and Renewable Energy is the means by which the challenges of environmental and energy sustainability will be met. A Durham degree will equip you with the skills required to meet these challenges.

Introduction
The school is one of a small number of general engineering departments in the UK. We consider the discipline as an integrated subject rather than subdividing the discipline into narrow areas. Our courses produce modern engineers who are capable of solving problems across the traditional engineering boundaries, which is an ideal environment for engineers working in new and renewable energy. For example, in a wind turbine the choice of generator has a direct consequence for the aerodynamic design of the turbine. The top reasons for coming to Durham to study on our new and renewable course are: 1. Outstanding course content equips engineers for the challenges of the renewable energy sector. A combination of taught modules and a major research project provides the correct balance of instruction and student led creativity. 2. Excellent research led teaching. The academic staff at the School are all actively engaged in research at the frontiers of modern Engineering analysis, design and practice. This excitement and knowledge is brought into the MSc programme through design projects and the research project. 3. An accredited course. Our MSc in New and Renewable Energy is fully accredited by the IMechE and the IET. This means that your Durham degree provides an important first step to becoming a Chartered Engineer. 4. Enviable external reputation. In the Times Good University Guide for 2010, Durham is ranked 3rd behind Oxford and Cambridge. Our graduates are also highly sought after by employers. 5. The unique College system at Durham University provides an unbeatable environment in which to study.

RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT (CORE MODULE) This module aims to introduce energy policy with regards renewable energy, to discuss energy resource issues and the impact of renewable energy and to consider global and UK energy use and its effect on the environment. The module introduces renewable energy conversion technologies including wind, solar power and hydro and gives students an appreciation of the industrial aspects of new and renewable energy systems and introduces project management techniques.

ENERGY DELIVERY AND NETWORK INTEGRATION In this module you will investigate the problems and benefits associated with embedded generation and the integration of new and renewable energy into electrical networks. The content includes network integration, transmission and distribution systems, power flow, embedded generation, offshore networks, electrical network faults and flexible AC transmission systems. ENERY GENERATION AND CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES This module examines issues relating to energy conversion and the control of a wide variety of electrical machines and power electronics. This includes devices used in the new and renewable sector including unusual configurations such as linear machines that are used for wave power generation. You will also study variable speed control, power electronics and energy storage ENERGY, MARKETS AND RISK The module enables students to understand why and how market-based solutions have been applied in the electricity supply industry and introduces elements of microeconomics and theory of the firm. Students are also introduced to the key principles of power system risk assessment and how these may applied in wind integration studies.

Optional modules Course Content

The MSc in New and Renewable Energy aims to educate students in the key Engineering aspects of New and Renewable Energy, enabling them to take responsible, creative, challenging and stimulating posts in industry or research in this exciting field anywhere in the world LOW CARBON AND THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES This module is designed to introduce and familiarise students with technologies for the thermal ultilisation of renewable energy for heat and power production and to provide an understanding of technologies for low carbon transportation including alternative drivetrains and fuels. The content includes Solar, thermal, biomass, hydrogen and waste energy resources, low carbon vehicle drive-trains, vehicle energy consumption, emissions and alternative fuels. TURBOMACHINERY AND NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING The module explains the fluid mechanics of wind turbines, hydro turbines and thermal power plant through which 99% of the worlds electricity is generated. It also covers the principles of nuclear energy, reactor core, safety and thermodynamic plant.

Programme structure
The programme consists of core modules to provide a solid foundation in a broad range of New and Renewable Energy technologies and optional modules that allow students to choose study programmes which are most suited to their interests. The modules include lecture courses, a group design project and an individual research and development project. FUNDAMENTALS MODULE At Durham the course starts with a fundamentals module which prepares students from different backgrounds to take full advantage of all aspects of the courses. This module consists of a month long intensive study programme that combines lectures, tutorials and labs. Topics studied include thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, power system plant, electrical circuits and power electronics and converters. The module also introduces students to best practice in research techniques.

Core modules
Design Project: A major team-based design project The end result is a series of detailed CAD drawings that are of sufficiently high quality that they could to be used for the manufacture your design. The Design Project will also provide you with experience of teamworking and project management. This activity takes places during the autumn term and is supervised by weekly group meetings with the design coordinator. Research and Development Project: The highlight of the degree is the research and development project. This activity which attracts half the marks for the entire course involves working closely with an academic supervisor on an area of cutting edge research and development. The best student projects have been featured in publications in Internationally recognised Engineering Journals. Recent project titles have included Operating in Reverse for Micro Hydro Power Generation Beam Forming for Wind Turbine Noise Evaluation Modelling Great Britain's Electricity System Implementation Forecasting for Real Time Rating Wave column turbine analysis Vertical axis wind turbine blade optimisation