Coursework Title: Alternative Energy Systems

Essay

Introduction:

 

In this assignment you have the opportunity to investigate any aspect of alternative energy supplies that interest you. The assignment may be in the form of an essay or a feasibility study the choice is yours. You are recommended to speak to one of the tutors before embarking on your chosen topic. Details of the tasks are given below. The start of your essay must include a paragraph which addresses the importance of alternative energy supplies (global warming, finite hydrocarbon resources etc.).

 

Learning Outcomes:

 

1          Discuss the issue of global warming within the context of power generation.

2          Analyse wind data and determine yield capacity of various types of wind turbines.

3          Design and evaluate the performance of a domestic solar thermal system by simulation.

4          Design and evaluate the performance of a photo voltaic generation system by simulation.

5          Discuss issues of grid connection and protection in relation to the UK grid distribution system.

6          Discuss in detail alternative designs of nuclear power stations and associated environmental and safety issues.

 

Details of the task

 

Essay

You are required to produce an essay discussing any aspect of ‘alternative/renewable energy supplies’. For example you may choose to concentrate your effort on a single alternative or renewable energy supply system such as photovoltaics’ or nuclear power. Alternatively you may choose to write about a number of alternative/renewable energy supply systems discussing the merits or otherwise of each.

As a minimum your essay needs to be structured and address the marking criteria.

Report/Feasibility Study

You are required to produce a report on a feasibility study that you have undertaken for a paying customer, the feasibility study could be on either a proposed wind turbine development a micro hydro development or a photovoltaic installation. As with most feasibility studies the aim is to determine whether the scheme is practically and financially viable, and to weigh the level of risk associated with the successful completion of the project.

As a minimum your report needs to be structure and address the marking criteria.

The essay

Your essay should include diagrams and photographs (properly cited and referenced).

Your essay should be word processed and contain between 1800-2000 words.

Your assignment will be checked for plagiarism using the universities plagiarism detection software: “Turnitin”. It is therefore vital that you correctly cite and reference any material you use.

 

Marking Scheme

 

Student Name:                                    

Essay Title:

Marking Criteria Essay	Mark	Comments
Introduction (10%) ·         How the subject matter relates to alternative energy supply systems. ·         Explain context in which the subject is important.
Structure, clarity and references (20%) ·         Planed and constructed in a logical manner. ·         Offers the reader a clear understanding from beginning to end. ·         Provide   adequate references using a recognised system
Analysis, evidence and argument (50%) Show that information/data from an appropriate sources has been obtained. Provide evidence that the above information/data has been objectively analysed. Show that a range of work produced by other authors or organisations has been used. Demonstrate that the sources above have been fully appraised.
Conclusion (20%) Produce a concise resolution of the question/problem posed at the beginning, encapsulating the major arguments. Offer suggestions for further work in the area.
Final Mark

 

 

 

Assessment Criteria

 

Guide to Performance Criteria (The Module Leader is advised to delete sections not applicable to the coursework set and if necessary modify the criteria accordingly)

70% and above:        

Your work must be of outstanding quality and fully meet the requirements of the coursework specification and learning outcomes stated. You must show independent thinking and apply this to your work showing originality and consideration of key issues. There must be evidence of wider reading on the subject.

Key words which may describe a coursework at this level include: appraises, compares, concludes, contrasts, criticizes, critiques, defends, discriminates, evaluates, explains, interprets, justifies, relates, supports.

60% – 70%:

Your work must be of good quality and meet the requirements of the coursework specification and learning outcomes stated. You must demonstrate some originality in your work and show this by applying new learning to the key issues of the coursework. There must be evidence of wider reading on the subject.

Key words which may describe a coursework at this level include: categorizes, combines, compiles, creates, devises, generates, modifies, reconstructs, identifies, illustrates, outlines, synthesizes.   

50% – 60%:

Your work must be comprehensive and meet all of the requirements stated by the coursework specification and learning outcomes. You must show a good understanding of the key concepts and be able to apply them to solve the problem set by the coursework. There must be enough depth to your work to provide evidence of wider reading.

Key words which may describe a coursework at this level include: demonstrates, changes, applies, operates, produces, predicts, shows, solves, uses, translates, comprehends, converts, generalizes.

40% – 50%:    

Your work must be of a standard that meets the requirements stated by the coursework specification and learning outcomes. You must show a reasonable level of understanding of the key concepts and principles and you must have applied this knowledge to the coursework problem. There should be some evidence of wider reading.

Key words which may describe a coursework at this level include: comprehends, defines, describes, identifies, knows, labels, lists, matches, outlines, recalls, recognizes, reproduces, selects, states, rewrites.

Below 40%:

Your work is of poor quality and does not meet the requirements stated by the coursework specification and learning outcomes. There is a lack of understanding of key concepts and knowledge and no evidence of wider reading.

 

Recommended reading

You may find the following publications useful:

 

Boyle G (2004) ‘Renewable Energy – Power for a Sustainable Future’ 2nd Edition Oxford University Press 0-19-926178-4

 

Boyle G, Everett B, Ramage J (2003) ‘Energy Systems and Sustainability – Power for a Sustainable Future’ Oxford University Press 0-19-926179-2

 

Manwell J F, McGowan J G, Rogers A L (2002) ‘Wind Energy Explained’ Wiley 0-471-49972-2

 

Twidell J, Weir T (2006) ‘Renewable Energy Resources’ Taylor & Francis 0-419-25330-0

 

Gore A (2006) ‘An Inconvenient Truth (DVD)’ Paramount 0-144-3792653-1

 

Hore-Lacy (2006) ‘Nuclear Energy for the 21st Century’ World Nuclear University Press 978-0123736222