Course description
Course Summary
Energy management using sustainable technologies and implementation of environmental initiatives play a rapidly increasing role in many public organisations and industry. There is an urgent need for trained personnel to advise, implement and deliver strategies and management for sustainable practices. This programme empowers graduates with a sound knowledge of sustainable technologies and skills for effective energy management with regard for environmental protection. It will enable them to create new opportunities for their employers by bringing an appreciation for current research into industrial use.
Accreditation
This course is approved by the Energy Institute (EI) as appropriate additional academic study (further learning) for those seeking to become qualified to register as Chartered Engineers (CEng).
Course Details
Links with industry will be a key part of the programme in the form of guest speakers from various industry sectors. Students will develop themes of expertise facilitated by an MSc project and dissertation, which also provides a useful introduction to students thinking of embarking on a doctoral research degree.
Modules (all core)
Energy Conversion Technologies
This element includes: principal fuels for energy conversion, production of thermal energy, conversion of thermal to mechanical energy, environmental impacts of power plant operation, conversion of thermal and chemical energy to electricity, cooling and heating equipment and thermal energy storage for heating and cooling
Sustainable Built Environment
This element includes: energy demand and consumption by building type and services, environmental conditions and thermal comfort theory, introduction to energy use for lighting and lighting systems, fundamentals of heat transfer, condensation in buildings, solar radiation, thermal response of buildings. introduction to ventilation, basic principles of natural, forced and hybrid ventilation system design, selection criteria, introduction to air conditioning, basic principles of air conditioning system design, air conditioning system selection criteria and design.
Renewable Energy Technologies
This element includes: energy sources, economics and environmental impact, energy storage technologies, the role of renewables, solar thermal, solar electricity, wind power generation, hydro, tidal and wave power, biofuels, building integrated renewables.
Sustainable Development: Energy in Transport and Industry
This element includes: sustainable development, energy, energy use, energy as business issue, industrial processes and energy use, energy use by transport systems and travel, advanced transport systems, zero emission vehicles and fuel cell developments.
Environmental Legislation: Energy and Environmental Review and Audit
This element includes: environmental regulations, hands-on environmental review and audit, environmental management systems, energy audit & management, establishing a monitoring and targeting scheme.
Environmental Impact and Risk Assessment
This element includes; Principles of EIA and ERA, Approaches and methodologies, Limitations, standardisation and quality issues in ERA, Matching ERA models to specific environmental risk scenarios, Resources and tools for conducting EIA and ERA, ERA Case studies (resident and guest speakers).
Research Methodology and Innovation
This element includes: Practical research issues: research processes and strategies; researcher/supervisor roles and relationships; writing, communicating and disseminating research; principles of good research practice. Information retrieval, Risk management: Risk analysis and decision support, financial indicators; and Innovation: Brainstorming, value engineering, intellectual property protection.
Strategic Management and Enterprise
This element includes: Financial ownership issues, Human resources management, Organisation of a business, Marketing concept, Ethical business, Marketing Communications: market research, marketing mix, branding, advertising and sponsorship.
Dissertation
The dissertation is a stimulating and challenging part of each MSc course. Dissertations may be carried out on any approved topic related to sustainable energy technologies and/or management. Essentially the dissertation gives the student the opportunity to apply the techniques and disciplines covered in the taught course to a topic of their own interest, of interest to a sponsoring or industrial organisation, or of research interest.
Assessment
Each module is assessed either by formal examination, written assignments or a combination of the two. Cut-off dates for receipt of assignments are specified at the beginning of each stage. Examinations are normally taken in May/June. Successful completion of the taught modules allows the student to proceed to the dissertation stage. To qualify for the award of the MSc degree, the student must submit a satisfactory dissertation. Where the dissertation is judged not to meet the MSc standard the student may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.
Careers
The course fully prepares you for work in the energy field where environmental and their management is a consideration. It is expected that graduates will be attracted by environmental consultancies, energy agencies and facilities managers such as county councils within their energy and environmental management departments. This course builds on our successful MSc in Building Services Engineering and Building Services Engineering Management. Former full-time recent graduates now work in building services and construction related consultancies such as Hoare Lea, WSP Group, Faber Maunsel and Hilson Moran. The course also prepares you to carry out related academic research. A number of students have stayed on to carry out a PhD at Brunel University - on average one student per year is offered a PhD position
