PDA Renewable Energy Systems

Level

PDA - Professional Development Award

Entry Requirements

Access is based on a broad criteria ensuring the candidate has the potential and ability to complete the award successfully.  Candidates should have general knowledge and understanding of engineering systems and mechanical, electrical and electronic principles and technologies.

The following qualifications are desirable:

• HNC or HND Engineering Systems
• HNC or HND Mechatronics
• Suitable Multi-Disciplinary Degree
• Awards equivalent to the above 

Alternative Access Arrangements:

• Assessment on demand
• Credit Transfer
• Accreditation of Prior Learning
• Relevant Work Experience 

Duration & Mode

Part-Time Online

Description

The PDA is an accredited professional development award in Renewable Energy at HNC/HND level. The award is made up of 6 credits selected from a number of specialist renewable energy units. The award is tailored to suit industry and community groups.

This new Professional Development Award (P D A) was developed to fill a gap in the current SQA provision by providing Renewable Energy Higher National (HN) Units and a named Group Award.

Aims of the Award

• Provide candidates with an opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the broad issues impacting on energy production and use at present and in the future.
• Provide candidates with knowledge and understanding of the science and engineering of a wide range of energy extraction systems used in the renewable energy sector and allowing candidates to make accurate comparisons between renewable technologies for solving energy problems.
• Allowing candidates the opportunity to specialise in two areas of Renewable Energy Systems.
• Enhancing candidates employment prospects.

Structure of Award
The award is based on 4 HN Units.  Two of the units are double credits and the other 2 units are single credits.
   
The double credit units are core units and the single credit units are options.
The award will be delivered online using the blackboard (BB) system to post lectures.

SCQF level 7 & 8.

6 credits at £86 per credit for full award.

Summary of Units

F1YL34 – Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Overview of Energy Use (Core unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Describing global energy use and trends
• Explaining environmental effects of energy production and use
• Analyse costs of different energy sources
• Compare advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy sources
• Explain concepts of efficiency and energy savings in buildings, transport and power generation

F1YN35 – Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Technology (Core unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Explaining operation and characteristics of electrical generator systems
• Explaining characteristics and optimal design of prime movers used in renewable energy applications
• Analyse effectiveness of wind, wave, tidal and hydroelectric systems

F1YF35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Hydrogen (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Explaining principles of hydrogen production
• Explaining operation of fuel cells
• Explaining hydrogen management issues
• Design and build a simple system ie. generation storage and consumption of hydrogen
• Analyse an engineering problem and develop a solution that uses hydrogen as an energy source

F1YR35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Wind Power (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Analyse response of different turbine and rotor designs in various wind conditions
• Evaluate economic performance and environmental impact of a turbine in various locations
• Apply operational understanding of wind turbines in both a theoretical and practical problem context
  

F1YG35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Biomass (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Analyse carbon cycle, biomass and climate change
• Explaining form and diverse nature of biomass resources
• Explaining biomass fuel forms and conversion technologies
• Investigating system configuration of biomass technologies

F1YH35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Geothermal Energy (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Evaluate nature and worldwide distribution of geothermal energy
• Explaining ways in which electricity can be generated from geothermal energy sources
• Explaining some non-electrical generation uses of geothermal energy
• Evaluate potential use of geothermal energy to a specific region

F1YJ35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Hydroelectricity (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Explaining the operating principles of different types of hydro-electric power schemes
• Determining hydro-electric generation scheme turbines, power outputs and grid connection issues
• Comparing and evaluating small and large scale hydro-electric power schemes
• Evaluating the future of hydro-electrical power schemes

F1YK34 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Microgeneration Systems (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Analyse results from an energy audit
• Select a microgeneration system for a specific project
• Evaluating effects and benefits of microgeneration from a financial and environmental point of view
  

F1YM35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Solar (Optional unit)

Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Explaining nature of solar resource
• Explaining photovoltaic effect and different PV technologies
• Applying design principles to sizing and specifying a basic solar installation
• Evaluating and predicting the performance of PV systems
• Evaluating and predicting the performance of solar hot water systems

F1YP35 - Renewable Energy Systems (RES): Wave and Tidal Energy (Optional unit)
Developing knowledge and skills ie.

• Describe and analyse tidal power generation systems
• Describe and analyse wave power generation systems
• Evaluate and compare designs for extracting ocean energy

NB –  There maybe an opportunity to choose other optional units once the two core units are complete.

Course Code: U95H6

Progression

HND
BEng (Hons) Energy Engineering

Campus

Stornoway