TEK5300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Renewable energy can be defined as energy generated from natural sources. This course will give an overview of the main scientific principles and technologies related to harnessing and conversion of the earth's renewable energy sources, combined with a wide range of case studies, laboratory activities and excursions at various research institutes and industries. Among the topics: indirect uses of solar energy such as wind and hydroelectric power, bioenergy; non-solar renewable energy such as tidal power, geothermal energy; integration into the grid system; sustainability of renewable energy, future prospects and policies scenario.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you will know how?to
- describe the various renewable energy sources and the possible conversion paths to a useful form of energy; learn the principles of the heat engine cycle
- describe the aerodynamics of wind turbines and calculate their power, energy production and the effect of the blade design; discuss the siting of turbines in relation to their output and their environmental impact
- explain the principles of hydroelectricity; describe how biomass is currently used as a source of energy, its future potential both in providing energy and in producing alternative fuels
- explain the physical principles of wave energy, the generation of tides and how to harness their power; describe the physics of geothermal resources, the thermal gradient and heat flow in sedimentary basins
- discuss the integration of intermittent renewable electricity into the grid system through laboratory exercises; compare the efficiency of different energy storage solutions (e.g. batteries, fuel cell and hydrogen storage); review the latest advancement in the materials development applied to renewable energy
- analyze the sustainability of renewable energy, the carbon abatement policies, the principles of CO2 capture and storage; gain an interdisciplinary approach to the issues raised by renewable energy; discuss how the risks and benefits of a particular strategy can be assessed
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other master's degree programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
PhD students must register for TEK9300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology.
The courses?TEK5300 and?TEK9300 have common admission, with a maximum of 40 places.?Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
Students with admission to the master's programme Renewable Energy Systems (master's two years).
PhD candidates at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum and visiting PhD candidates.
For the remaining places, students?will be given admission based on the regular rules (number of credits first, then?on?a first-come-first-served basis).
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with TEK9300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology.
- 10 credits overlap with UNIK4800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with UNIK9800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued).
Teaching
The course has 3 hours of lectures each week, with individual and/or group?exercises?throughout the semester.?There will be arranged visits and laboratory experiences in various research facilities.
Relevant literature?will be given at the beginning of the course.
A mandatory assignment must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Examination
- A final oral exam counts 100% towards the final grade. In case of many students a written exam may be held instead.
The course has a mandatory assignment which?must be approved before you can sit the final exam.?
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:
- TEK9300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology
- UNIK4800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued)
- UNIK9800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued)
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
Courses taught in English will only offer the exam paper in English. You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.