You will undertake a minimum six week summer research work between years three and four of your RE MEng degree studies, with a research group involved in renewable energy, undertaking RE related work. During this time you and your academic supervisor will together identify a research and or development programme of benefit to the research group that will be completed during the first term of year four.

You will receive guidance in time and project management and will be expected to submit your completed project reports and other assessed work at the end of term 1.

You will have completed the third year of either MEng or BEng renewable energy degree studies.

This module is unlikely to be suitable for any one who does not have a sound background in renewable energy.

To provide direct experience within a research group within the university working within or related to the energy sector, UK or world-wide. You will work on a live research project, aiming to meet all requirements associated with working to a defined project brief, established during the Summer vacation stage, but the execution of which is extended through into the academic year. This provides an opportunity for in-depth academic study, analysis and design, that may also integrate many areas of the formally taught curriculum, in a clearly defined research context. The module aims to encourage the use of creativity, imagination and initiative and professional conduct and discipline in executing the project.

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

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 understand the subject area of the project and in related areas, that goes beyond that simply required for the competent execution of the agreed project work;

2 carry out a complete design, creation of product, service or piece of research to meet a specified need, from negotiating a specification to verification that the result meets that specification, showing creativity and justifying all decisions;

3 select and apply appropriate mathematical methods, scientific principles or computer based methods for the modelling and analysis of an engineering problem and applied them creatively and realistically in a practical application;

4 communicate effectively, through accurate and consistent record keeping within a project log book;

5 select and use laboratory instrumentation correctly;

6 construct prototypes or experimental apparatus to design specifications;

7 grasp quality issues and the manner in which record keeping of scientific and technical results and methodology underpins these.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

8 comprehend a wide range of engineering materials and components;

9 take an analytical, systematic and creative, possibly holistic, approach to problem solving;

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:

10 recognise the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and assessment and management of risk (including environmental risk);

11 utilise technical literature and other information sources;

12 fathom the nature of intellectual property and contractual issues;

13 realise the appropriate codes of practice and industry standards;

14 appreciate the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering.

By individual negotiation with supervisor.

As above 1 piece of CW 100%

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Other Resources:

Reading list for this module: