Sustainable Energy - Technologies and Management MSc

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 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 Energy Development
This element includes: concepts of sustainable energy development, energy efficiency, energy savings and emission reductions, clean energy production, energy as business issue, introduction to ventilation, energy efficiency in ventilation, basic principles of natural, forced and hybrid ventilation system design, selection criteria, 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 Auditing
This element includes: environmental regulations, hands-on environmental review and audit, environmental management systems, energy audit and management, establishing a monitoring and targeting scheme.

Sustainable Development in Practice
The key aim of this module is to develop the skills and knowledge required to analyse, research and tackle sustainable development problems. This is achieved via a series of group projects that illustrate the complex interplay of environmental, societal and economic implications for a range of stakeholders in real sustainable development case studies. Developing the process of personal review, reflection and development is the second major aim of the module.

Research Methods and Sustainable Engineering
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.

Master's Project and 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. Students will have also the opportunity to utilize advanced energy engineering laboratories within the Centre for Energy and Built Environment Research (CEBER) and the Institute of Energy Futures as well as advanced software (TRNSYS, RETSreen, Polysun, HelioScope PV system design, IES, EnergyPlus, SAM, Ansys-Fluent-CFX etc.), which can be used to evaluate energy production profiles and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for various types of renewable-energy and energy-efficient technologies.

Energy and the environment is a strong research area in the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, with current activities covering the distributed generation of energy through to the efficient utilisation of energy and the use of renewable resources. In particular there is research currently being carried out into resource efficient future cities, smart power networks, sustainable energy storage systems, emerging fuels and low carbon power technologies such as hydrogen and fuel cells. Links to industry, energy institutions and pioneer in energy technology are also a key part of the dissertation topics proposed to students. Companies that have sponsored dissertation projects are: Heathrow Airport Limited, Skyline Solar Ltd, Trumpf Maschinen GmbH, Acta S.p.A. – Clean Energy Products, EngDesign Ltd, National Grid, Kodak Limited (UK), BRE Group, Buro-Happold, Techniplan Advisors, ChapmanBDSP Ltd, Datum Phase Change Ltd, Diamond Detectors Ltd, Edesa, Revolution Karting, Biossence Renewable Energy Ltd.

Strategic Management, Innovation 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.

Project Management
This module aims to give you a comprehensive understanding and critical awareness of the latest advanced techniques and strategies for Project Management, including management tools, management and reporting methods and team building. Opportunities are provided to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in these areas. A number of specific areas are covered including contract law and health and safety. The module ends with project auditing to establish performance and project closure.

Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel and what you will learn on the course.