PHY3112 Energy and the Environment

2007-2008

Code: PHY3112
Title: Energy and the Environment
Instructors: Dr D.A. Coley and Mr T.A. Mitchell
CATS credits: 10
ECTS credits: 5
Availability: unrestricted
Level: 3
Pre-requisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Background Assumed: Thermal Physics (PHY1002) and Statistical Physics (PHY2201)
Duration: Semester II
Directed Study Time: 16 lectures and 6 project sessions
Private Study Time: 78 hours
Assessment Tasks Time: -
Observation report: 2002/03 ASP (JAC)

Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the broad range of issues concerned in the relationship between energy-use and environmental change. Energy is mainly derived from fossil fuels; there are two problems with this energy source. The first is that it is finite, and so in the future we must move to sustainable energy sources. Secondly, fossil fuels pollute the environment on both a local and a global scale. For example the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing, and this is likely to lead to global warming. Students will become acquainted with the technical, economic and social issues in sufficient depth to allow them to make informed and quantitative judgements on proposals to ameliorate environmental damage by policy and other changes. They also have the opportunity to exercise these skills in examining a "real world" issue in the course of researching a project report.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to:

Module Specific Skills

• analyse and compare alternative potential solutions to environmental and energy-supply issues using their knowledge of a wide range of energy technologies and energy-related environmental issues;
• in the overall context of the need to reduce global fossil fuel consumption:
  • quantify the scope for efficiency improvements in electricity production,
  • evaluate the relative potentials of a range of renewable energy technologies,
  • quantify and compare various economic demand management measures,
  • calculate heat loss from buildings and identify effective conservation measures,
  • distinguish between local and global pollution effects;

Discipline Specific Skills

• work in a group to analyse a problem and hence:
  • use literature and other search methods to acquire the necessary data,
  • order and analyse data from diverse sources to support an argument,
  • quantify each element and produce a rational comparison of options,
  • summarise the complex and difficult issues into a convincing conclusion,
  • write a convincing and coherent account of their analysis;

Personal and Key Skills

• distinguish between competing solutions by making a quantitative assessment of the efficacy of each;
• work in groups, i.e. define and share tasks, cooperate with others, discuss and form a consensus agreement;
• communicate a coherent and convincing technical argument in writing;
• communicate clearly with an audience by making a ten-minute oral presentation.

Lectures, worksheets, WWW, group project.

Assignments

Worksheets. Project-report (5000 words) and group presentation.

Assessment

Worksheets (50%), group project (40%) and presentation (10%).

Syllabus Plan and Content

1. Lectures
   1. Introduction
   2. Global warming 1
   3. Global warming 2
   4. Ozone depletion, acid rain
   5. Historic energy-demand
   6. Economics of energy use
   7. Fossil fuel 1
   8. Fossil fuel 2
   9. Energy from the wind
   10. Wave, tidal and hydro power
   11. Energy from wood and biomass
   12. Solar energy
   13. Nuclear energy
   14. Conservation issues 1
   15. Conservation issues 2
   16. Transport and conservation
2. Group Project
   Working in groups of 4 or 5, students will analyse and compare alternative approaches to a problem; possible topics include, for example, "Propose a series of measures which, globally, could be used to absorb or sequester 50% of the carbon currently emitted from burning fossil fuels", "Determine what fraction of the UK's requirement for electricity could be met from wind power", etc. A report of 5000 words is to be produced by the end of week 10, and the findings presented to the rest of the class in week 11.

Core Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Text(s)

Allaby M. (2000), Basics of Environmental Science, Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0-415-21175-1 (UL: 504 ALL)
Boeker E. and van Grondelle R. (1995), Environmental Physics, John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0-471-93931-5 (UL: 628 BOE)
Boyle G. (1996), Renewable Energy - Power for a Sustainable Future, OUP/OU, ISBN 0-19-856452-x (UL: 333.82 BOY)
Campbell I.M. (1986), Energy and the Atmosphere, A Physical-Chemical Approach (2^nd edition), Wiley, ISBN 0-471-90856-8 (UL: 551.511 CAM)
Ramage J. (1997), Energy: A Guidebook, An Opus book, OUP, ISBN 0-192-88022-5 (UL: 333.79 RAM)
Twidell J. and Weir T. , Renewable Energy Resources, F. and F.N. Spon, ISBN 0-419-12010-6 (UL: 621.4 TWI)

Formative Mechanisms

Marked worksheets are returned to students for their inspection, so that they can monitor their own learning progress. Many of the resources required to complete the project report are located within the Centre for Energy and the Environment, this gives students the opportunity to discuss their reports with staff during compilation. The outcome of group presentations is communicated directly by audience response and marked by staff. Any issues which arise during the marking of the worksheets, and which indicate a general difficulty with any topic, are raised with the class in lectures.

Evaluation Mechanisms

The module will be evaluated using information gathered via the student representation mechanisms, the staff peer appraisal scheme, and measures of student attainment based on summative assessment.