MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition

Detailed degree guide

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Entry courses

A11ER Economics of Renewable Energy
Explore key concepts in economics before going on to consider the fundamental debate of whether the state or the market should deliver energy to consumers, and the pros and cons of each. This includes an analysis of the costs of electricity from different sources, energy market structures, renewable energy incentives, and potential economic solutions to systemic market failures such as climate change. 

A11TZ Transition Engineering
Transition Engineering is the work of delivering the system changes needed to achieve international agreements on global sustainability. This course will help you become a leader in the emerging discipline of Transition Engineering of complex systems. You will learn the overall approach, tools and methods that have been developed through more than 20 years of research aimed at generating ingenuity to spark strategic invention. Transition Engineering is interdisciplinary, building up knowledge about energy systems, infrastructure, built environments, transport but also society, environment and economics. The course is assessed on marked discussions, data analysis and modelling, and a case study report.

Mandatory

A11TG Renewable Technology : Generation
This course considers the generation of renewable energy from renewable sources including solar, biomass, hydro, wind, wave and tidal energy. We will examine energy in the earth system, calculations of available resources, and technologies of energy capture. Assessment is split between understanding of the general principles, and a development project.

A11TI Integration of Renewable Technology
This course looks at how renewable energy integrates into larger energy systems. The emphasis is on electricity but heat and transport are considered as well. We will cover electrical grids, storage, “smart” systems, microgrids, and energy efficiency in buildings. As part of the assessment you will be invited to do high-level design of an integrated renewable energy system.

A11ET Energy Transition Lab
Energy Transition Laboratory involves real-world application of Transition Engineering, where students learn by doing. It includes project management, project definition, and other transferrable skills, integrated in a semester-long project that follows the “InTIME” methodology for energy transitions.

A11RN Renewable Technology Commercialisation
In this module you will learn about the process of renewable energy project development, from the initial exploration of possible sites through to construction, operation, and decommissioning, while gaining exposure to “the real world”. The majority of the teaching is by guest lecturers from industry who work from day to day on real projects.

A11RS Supply Chain Management, Decarbonisation and Renewable Energy 
This course creates knowledge on the crucial role of energy in the global supply chains, and related implications for decarbonisation, net zero goals, and energy shortages. The course covers background knowledge about forward and reverse supply chains and logistics, before taking a deep dive into the different trajectories for the supply chain management of energy resources.

Optional courses

All students choose one of:

A11EN Environmental Processes
This course introduces the basic principles in marine ecology, focusing on how different marine organisms interact with each other and their environment. It then covers human impact on the marine environment, biodiversity, and marine conservation.

A11OC Oceanography
This course focuses on the physics and chemistry of the ocean. Learning about the ocean has 3 primary motivations that underpin the content:
1. Earth's life systems depend on the ocean.
2. The ocean is an enormous resource, including categories of renewable energy.
3. Marine developments can only be developed responsibility with an understanding of the marine environment.

D11CA Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
This course covers aspects of sustainability, climate science, climate resilience/vulnerability, and adaptation in the widest sense. In addition, students will also look at the policy and legislation related to climate change mitigation and action from the UK and beyond. The course assessment encourages students to research and critically evaluate emerging knowledge, science, principles, and technology related to addressing the climate crisis.