Wind energy is the foremost renewable energy technology in the UK and much of the rest of the world.

This module provides you with a comprehensive, appropriate level, understanding of all facets of wind energy, the wind energy industry and the UK/EU planning and development process.

Students who have successfully completed this module have attracted summer work placements and subsequent full time employment with major national and international companies and organisations – undertaking a wide range of ‘wind’ related work.

Students taking this module should have a background knowledge of the topic, from Year 1 or foundation degree level studies of renewable energy. It is not suitable for non-specialist students but could be applicable to students involved in wider energy/sustainability related subjects.

This is an advanced course providing practical training in wind power development; including wind resource estimation; turbine design and selection; permitting procedures; construction, deployment and operations; economics and finance; environmental impact assessment and environmental management.

 

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

 

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 understand the technical characteristics of wind turbines.

2 show understanding of the process of the design and project development process for wind farms.  

3 apply mathematical methods to analyse new and/or abstract wind resource data and wind farm situations, without guidance, to produce statements of the wind energy resource at specific sites.

4 acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding of engineering components and materials such that, by working autonomously, they can select appropriate wind turbine models and balance-of-plant items that maximise the wind energy harnessed.

5 gain comprehensive knowledge of the planning and permitting process for wind energy developments, and have developed critical understanding of the successes and failures of the UK system.

6 understand electrical issues associated with windfarms including grid connection and power purchase agreements.

7 develop an understanding of health and safety issues associated with wind energy operations.

 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

8 increase knowledge and experience in finding and interpreting factors relevant to project development.

9 develop skills in research, organisation and time management.

10 assimilate and interpret complex information.

11 increase understanding of technical/legal documents.

12 find and apply specific regulation and guidance pertaining to development of a wind energy project.

13 understand the capabilities of GIS methods for problem solving and be capable of assessing the limitations of GIS software in complex renewable energy project development

14 select appropriate GIS procedures and algorithms, and apply spatial reasoning to solve unfamiliar problems.

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

15 select appropriate data from a range of sources and develop research strategies

16 manage learning using resources for the discipline

17 produce high quality factual reports

18 draw reasoned conclusions from findings

Session 1: Introduction to course and assessment. Introduction to wind power, wind farms and project development. Benefits of wind power.

Session 2: Wind turbine technology: history, current and future development; design fundamentals.

Session 3: Wind farm meteorology: wind, data collection, wind resource assessment. Field trip.

Session 4: Wind turbine selection and associate issues; operating characteristics.

Session 5: Site selection/feasibility.  Site identification and mapping; Project planning and EIA; Key constraints: access, grid, land, wind, planning permits.

Session 6: Environmental constraints: noise, visual, ecology, heritage, aviation, EMI etc. Environmental management.

Session 7: Economics and financing, Power purchase agreements, Market drivers, tariff regimes.

Session 8: Balance of plant, construction, commissioning, O and M, H and S.

Session 9: Offshore wind: introduction to offshore wind and associated issues.

If a student is referred or deferred, the failed / non-completed component(s) will be re-assessed at the same weighting as the original assessment.

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/ 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

HMSO Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/147444.pdf 

HMSO Planning for Renewable Energy: A Companion Guide to PPS22: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/147447.pdf

Renewables UK (formerly British Wind Energy Association): http://www.bwea.com/

Wind Energy  the Facts: http://www.wind-energy-the-facts.org/en/home--about-the-project.html                                                                                                                                            

Other Resources:

Reading list for this module: