Schwaegerl, Christine

RATIONALE

The development of sustainable concepts for secure, affordable and environmentally sound energy production is one of the most urgent, global challenges confronting humanity in the 21st century.

Power generation plays a dominant role both in industrialised nations and in emerging nations. Today, power generation is mainly based on thermal and hydro power plants, with increasing shares of renewable and distributed generation technologies based on combined heat and power plants.

The drive for lower-carbon generation technologies, combined with greatly improved efficiency on the demand side and technical developments of information and communication technologies, will enable customers to become much more inter-active with the networks. These fundamental changes will impact significantly network design and control (Smart Grids). Electricity grids of the future will allow the customer to take an active role in the supply of electricity.

The energy challenges that the world is now facing are changing the electricity generation and distribution landscape. Therefore professionals are required who are proficient in power engineering.

AIMS

To familiarise the student with fundamental aspects of power systems, energy economics, renewable energies and their integration into energy systems.

Renewable Energies – The module will raise awareness of the physical and technological challenges to use renewable energy resources. Students will know all forms of renewable energies and their technologies to use them. Students will gain mathematical and engineering skills in design, analysis and evaluation of renewable energy systems.

Power Systems of the future – To provide students with basic knowledge of power system technologies and operation. Students will know different ways to control the components of a smart grid by modern information and communication technology. As an appreciated side effect the students know technical, commercial and regulatory frameworks of future grids. Additionally students will get a deeper understanding in basics of network calculation and in energy economics.