The Energy and Renewable Energy Systems Major brings together a diverse range of engineering disciplines to achieve a common goal: the delivery of affordable, sustainable, decarbonized energy services to society.
The Major builds on a solid foundation of mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge. It recognises that solar photovoltaics and wind energy now comprise three quarters of net new global generation capacity additions (99% in Australia) because they are cheap and getting cheaper. Electrification of transport, heating and industry will more than double electricity demand.
Students gain technical knowledge of solar and wind power, electricity transmission and distribution, energy storage, and hydrogen generation and use. Environmental, social, resource, material and financial constraints are considered.
The Major gives students a broad context of the available energy resources and energy technologies. Students develop the analytical skills that permit them to select the most appropriate technology, or to combine several of them to meet an energy demand with high performance and low cost.
Graduates are able to critically analyse and design affordable and sustainable energy systems, and combine them as required to provide energy solutions. Graduates may pursue further specialisation in other energy technologies, based on the foundations gained through this major. A subset of courses is offered as a flexible minor.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply wind and solar energy resource mapping and modelling methods to design wind and solar farms.
- Evaluate solutions to engineering problems in the design and integration of renewable energy and energy storage into the electricity grid by selecting and applying theoretical principles and methods from mathematics, physics, electrical, electronic and control engineering.
- Demonstrate proficiency with advanced knowledge and tools in the field of renewable energy engineering, including knowledge of power systems and embedded systems, and tools for wind and solar energy mapping.
- Identify and compare current developments and emerging trends in the design, integration, and operation of renewable and distributed energy generation, as well as renewables-based industrial processes and transport.
- Use disciplinary knowledge and effective communication skills to critically appraise self and others' engineering designs and solutions.
- Undertake critical reflection and independent research in the field of renewable energy engineering.
- Work effectively within teams, demonstrating autonomy, professional conduct, well developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility to achieve engineering outcomes at a high standard.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
48 units from the completion of the following courses:
ENGN2218 Electronic Systems and Design (6 units)
ENGN2222 Engineering Thermodynamics (6 units)
ENGN3224 Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer (6 units)
ENGN3516 Energy Resources and Renewable Technologies (6 units)
ENGN4524 Photovoltaic Technologies (6 units)
ENGN4547 Grid Integration of Renewable and Storage Technologies (6 units)
ENGN4548 Wind Energy (6 units)
ENGN4625 Power Systems and Power Electronics (6 units)
48 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGN1218 | Introduction to Electronics | 6 |
| ENGN2218 | Electronic Systems and Design | 6 |
| ENGN2222 | Engineering Thermodynamics | 6 |
| ENGN3224 | Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer | 6 |
| ENGN 3334: Semiconductors | ||
| ENGN 3516: Energy Resources | ||
| ENGN4524 | Photovoltaic Technologies | 6 |
| ENGN 4525: Solar Thermal Technologies |