SOLA1070, 2021, T3
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
UNSW Engineering
SOLA1070
Sustainable Energy
Term 3, 2021
SOLA1070 // Term 3, 2021 // published at 03-09-2021 © UNSW Sydney, 2021
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Course Overview
Staff Contact Details
Convenors
Name Email Availability Location Phone
Murad Tayebjee m. .au Microsoft Teams TETB 242
Tutors
Name Email Availability Location Phone
Shukla Poddar s. .au Microsoft Teams
Muhammad Ali mt. .au Microsoft Teams
School Contact Information
School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Email: .au
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mailto:m. .au
mailto:s. .au
mailto:mt. .au
mailto: .au
Course Details
Units of Credit 6
Summary of the Course
Students will be introduced to the central concepts of energy and sustainability with a particular focus on
sustainable energy systems. Energy efficiency will be introduced as an effective way in which to
conserve our natural fuel reserves and reduce environmental damage in a cost-effective way. This
course will also introduce students to a range of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics,
wind generators and solar thermal and allow them to explore ways in which these technologies and
energy efficiency can be used to improve the sustainability of electrical power systems. Finally, students
will attempt to address the challenges involved in balancing between energy security (ability to meet
demand), energy equity (affordability), and environmental sustainability in the design of an energy
infrastructure for a community.
Course Aims
The course aims to introduce:
The concept of sustainability and increase awareness of the different sustainability indicators and
the challenges imposed by climate change and natural resource reserves.
The concept of energy, energy conversion, and energy efficiency.
A range of renewable energy technologies and develop an understanding in students of how
these technologies can be used to improve the sustainability of electrical power systems.
Expose students to the challenges involved in balancing between energy security (ability to meet
demand), energy equity (affordability) and environmental sustainability in the design of an energy
infrastructure for a community.
SOLA1070 is a 1st year course in the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering. It is a
recommended elective for the Photovoltaics & Solar Energy and Renewable Energy Streams.
This course is an introductory course. More details on the topics covered are given in SOLA2450,
SOLA5053, SOLA5057, SOLA3010, and MECH9720.
Course Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
Learning Outcome EA Stage 1 Competencies
1. Identify the key economic and environmental sustainability
indicators.
PE1.1, PE1.3, PE1.6, PE3.2,
PE3.3
2. Describe the operation of a range of renewable energy
technologies.
PE1.1, PE1.2, PE1.6, PE3.2
3. Perform calculations based on energy conversion and transfer
processes.
PE1.1, PE1.2, PE2.1, PE2.2
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Learning Outcome EA Stage 1 Competencies
4. Design an energy infrastructure by making decisions based on
energy security (ability to meet demand), energy equity
(affordability) and environmental sustainability.
PE1.1, PE1.2, PE1.6, PE3.2,
PE3.3
Teaching Strategies
SOLA1070 will be taught completely online with synchronous classes on Microsoft Teams for weeks
1-6 (future teaching arrangements will depend on the ongoing NSW lockdown). The strategy here is to
build a learning community, where there is the possibility for text chat between students at any time.
Students will be introduced to basic programming using MATLAB.
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Assessment
Assessment task Weight Due Date Course Learning
Outcomes Assessed
1. Online Quiz 1 15% 08/10/2021 05:00 PM 1, 3
2. Critical Thinking Written
Assignment
15% 29/10/2021 05:00 PM 1, 2, 3, 4
3. Online Quiz 2 15% 29/10/2021 05:00 PM 2, 3, 4
4. Online Quiz 3 15% 19/11/2021 05:00 PM 2, 3, 4
5. Final Exam 40% Not Applicable 1, 2, 3, 4
Assessment 1: Online Quiz 1
Start date: 24/09/2021 09:00 AM
Due date: 08/10/2021 05:00 PM
Deadline for absolute fail: 15/10/2021 05:00 PM
Quiz 1 is UNTIMED and covers material from weeks 1 & 2.
This is not a Turnitin assignment
Assessment criteria
This assessment will be on Moodle.
Question types include: multiple choice, calculations and short answer.
Multiple choice: Some multiple choice questions will have have several correct answers which need to
be selected. Incorrect selections will attract a penalty, but you cannot get less than 0 for a given
question.
Calculations: Full marks will be given for correct calculations and units (where applicable). If answers
are incorrect the teaching team will check your working so that partial marks can be awarded.
Calculation working should be shown in a programming format (preferably MATLAB).
Short answer: Provide your answers in the boxes provided.
Assessment 2: Critical Thinking Written Assignment
Start date: 01/10/2021 09:00 AM
Due date: 29/10/2021 05:00 PM
Deadline for absolute fail: 5/11/2021 05:00 PM
Written assignment on critical thinking with regards to an aspect of public debate.
This assignment is submitted through Turnitin and students can see Turnitin similarity reports.
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Assessment criteria
See assignment description pdf.
Assessment 3: Online Quiz 2
Start date: 15/10/2021 09:00 AM
Due date: 29/10/2021 05:00 PM
Deadline for absolute fail: 5/11/2021 05:00 PM
Quiz 2 is TIMED (1 hour) and covers material from weeks 3 – 5.
Assessment criteria
See Quiz 1 Assessment Criteria.
Assessment 4: Online Quiz 3
Start date: 12/11/2021 09:00 AM
Due date: 19/11/2021 05:00 PM
Deadline for absolute fail: 26/11/2021 05:00 PM
Quiz 3 is TIMED (1 hour) and will cover topics from weeks 7 – 9.
This is not a Turnitin assignment
Assessment criteria
See Quiz 1 Assessment Criteria.
Assessment 5: Final Exam
Final exam which will cover all course content. Details will be provided in the Week 10 Lecture.
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Attendance Requirements
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all classes and review lecture recordings.
Course Schedule
You should attend the lectures and one workshop per week. Please only attend the workshop which you
are timetabled for.
. Day Time Location
Lectures Tuesday 10am – 12pm Microsoft Teams (live)
Workshops Wednesday 12pm – 2pm Law G17*
Wednesday 4pm – 6pm Microsoft Teams (live)
Friday 2pm – 4pm SEB B25*
* These workshops will run on Microsoft Teams in the event of a lockdown.
Please refer to your class timetable for the learning activities you are enrolled in and attend only those
classes.
View class timetable
Timetable
Date Type Content
Week 1: 13 September
– 17 September
Topic Sustainability
Identify the dimensions of sustainability
Identify economic, environmental, and
social sustainability indicators.
Discuss complementarities and conflicts
between the dimensions of sustainability
Reading 1.https://www.iea.org/sdg/
2.https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopme
nt/
3.Lecture references
Week 2: 20 September
– 24 September
Topic Energy & Thermodynamics
Define the concepts of energy and power
in terms of: (a) power applied over time;
and (b) rate of energy flow.
Perform calculations using dimensional
analysis to verify the above concepts.
Perform calculations based on energy
conversion and transfer processes.
Assessment Quiz 1 opens!
Reading 1.https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/fil
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http://timetable.unsw.edu.au/2021/SOLA1070.html
https://www.iea.org/sdg/
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/filter
ter
2.University Physics, Volume 1 Chapters 1,
7, and 8
(
https://openstax.org/details/books/universi
ty-physics-volume-1)
3.Lecture references
Week 3: 27 September
– 1 October
Topic Climate Change (Guest Lecturer: Prof. Jason
Evans)
Describe the potential impacts of CO2
emissions, and define and calculate
related parameters such as CO2 emission
intensity.
Identify strengths and weaknesses in
public and academic debate about climate
change.
Assessment Critical Thinking Written Assignment opens!
Reading 1.https://www.ipcc.ch/
2.Lecture references
Week 4: 4 October – 8
October
Topic Economics & Utility Scales
Define, calculate and apply basic techno-
economic parameters, including LCOE,
the time value of money, and marginal
cost of energy generation.
Describe the relationships between
energy efficiency and costs of electricity.
Describe the implications of implementing
large-scale renewable energy
technologies on the electricity grid
Assessment Quiz 1 is DUE!
Reading 1.https://www.eia.gov/tools/glossary/
2.https://www.aemo.com.au/
3.Lecture references
Week 5: 11 October –
15 October
Topic Energy Efficiency (Guest Lecturer: Prof.
Alistair Sproul)
Identify methods of reducing energy
usage such as using low-energy
whitegoods, appropriate building
materials, and smart metering
Assess the effects of increased energy
efficiency on lowering CO2 emissions
Assessment Quiz 2 opens!
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https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/filter
https://openstax.org/details/books/university-physics-volume-1
https://openstax.org/details/books/university-physics-volume-1
https://www.eia.gov/tools/glossary/
https://www.aemo.com.au/
Reading 1.Lecture references
Week 6: 18 October –
22 October
Topic Flexibility Week
Dr Tayebjee will be available during the lecture
timeslot for questions.
Quiz 1 solutions will be provided in the tutorial.
Reading 1.Wolf, E. L. (2018). Physics and
technology of sustainable energy (First
edition). Oxford University Press. (Chapter
2)
Week 7: 25 October –
29 October
Topic Solar Photovoltaic Power
Explain why the entire solar spectrum
cannot be harvested
Describe the dependence of solar
radiation intensity on: time of day; time of
year; and location.
Identify the energy conversion processes
in a photovoltaic cell
Calculate the power and energy
generated by a photovoltaic array
considering derating factors
List the functions and desired properties
of inverters
Assessment Quiz 2 is DUE!
Assessment Critical Thinking Writing Assignment is DUE!
Reading 1.https://www.pveducation.org/
2.Lecture references
Week 8: 1 November –
5 November
Topic Wind Power (Guest Lecturer: Dr Merlinde Kay)
Explain the basic underlying science of
wind energy, and engineering aspects of
wind turbines.
Perform basic statistical analysis of wind
data
Perform calculations of annual energy
output and determine the capacity factor
of a wind turbine
Have a good appreciation of some of the
wider economic, social and environmental
aspects of wind energy systems.
Reading 1.Wolf, E. L. (2018). Physics and
technology of sustainable energy (First
edition). Oxford University Press. (Chapter
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https://www.pveducation.org/
8)
2.Lecture references
Week 9: 8 November –
12 November
Topic Solar Thermal & Storage (Guest Lecturer:
A/Prof. Robert Taylor)
Compare solar thermal to solar
photovoltaics in terms of key metrics and
feasible applications
Be able to explain and calculate the
energy output of a solar thermal module
as a function of direct and diffuse
insolation, wind speed, ambient
temperature, and operating temperature.
Be able to distinguish between different
solar thermal technologies and their
suitability to different
environments/applications.
Describe the current challenges facing
energy storage technologies
Calculate required battery capacities and
charging times
Assessment Quiz 3 opens!
Reading 1.Wolf, E. L. (2018). Physics and
technology of sustainable energy (First
edition). Oxford University Press.
(Chapters 9, 11.2)
2.Lecture references
Week 10: 15 November
– 19 November
Topic Industry Lecture & Exam Revision
Assessment Quiz 3 is DUE!
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Resources
Prescribed Resources
UNSW Library website: https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/
Moodle: https://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/login/index.php
Microsoft Teams: https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/download-app
MATLAB Online: https://matlab.mathworks.com/
Recommended Resources
See Readings in the timetable section.
Course Evaluation and Development
Feedback on the course is gathered periodically using various means, including the UNSW
myExperience process, informal discussion in the final class for the course, and the School’s
Student/Staff meetings. Your feedback is taken seriously, and continual improvements are made to the
course based, in part, on such feedback.
In this course, recent improvements resulting from student feedback include:
1. Slides updated with colour-coded backgrounds to identify examinable material
2. Increased the number of worked examples
3. Lecture notes available prior to lectures
4. Large number of practice questions will be supplied towards the end of the term5.
5. Increased the level of “peer-learning” by having dedicated Microsoft Teams channels
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https://www.library.unsw.edu.au/
https://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/login/index.php
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/download-app
https://matlab.mathworks.com/
Submission of Assessment Tasks
Work submitted late without an approved extension by the course coordinator or delegated authority is
subject to a late penalty of 30 percent (30%) mark reduction on the first day and an additional 5% per
day thereafter, consistent with other SPREE courses.
The late penalty is applied per calendar day (including weekends and public holidays) that the
assessment is overdue. There is no pro-rata of the late penalty for submissions made part way through a
day.
Work submitted after the ‘deadline for absolute fail’ is not accepted and a mark of zero will be awarded
for that assessment item.
For some assessment items, a late penalty may not be appropriate. These are clearly indicated in the
course outline, and such assessments receive a mark of zero if not completed by the specified date.
Examples include:
a. Weekly online tests or laboratory work worth a small proportion of the subject mark, or
b. Online quizzes where answers are released to students on completion, or
c. Professional assessment tasks, where the intention is to create an authentic assessment that has an
absolute submission date
or
d. Pass/Fail assessment tasks.
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Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
UNSW has an ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of learning informed by academic integrity. All
UNSW students have a responsibility to adhere to this principle of academic integrity. Plagiarism
undermines academic integrity and is not tolerated at UNSW. Plagiarism at UNSW is defined as using
the words or ideas of others and passing them off as your own.
Plagiarism is a type of intellectual theft. It can take many forms, from deliberate cheating to accidentally
copying from a source without acknowledgement. UNSW has produced a website with a wealth of
resources to support students to understand and avoid plagiarism, visit: student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism.
The Learning Centre assists students with understanding academic integrity and how not to plagiarise.
They also hold workshops and can help students one-on-one.
You are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the
identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for
research, drafting and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment tasks.
If plagiarism is found in your work when you are in first year, your lecturer will offer you assistance to
improve your academic skills. They may ask you to look at some online resources, attend the Learning
Centre, or sometimes resubmit your work with the problem fixed. However more serious instances in first
year, such as stealing another student’s work or paying someone to do your work, may be investigated
under the Student Misconduct Procedures.
Repeated plagiarism (even in first year), plagiarism after first year, or serious instances, may also be
investigated under the Student Misconduct Procedures. The penalties under the procedures can include
a reduction in marks, failing a course or for the most serious matters (like plagiarism in an honours
thesis) even suspension from the university. The Student Misconduct Procedures are available here:
www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/studentmisconductprocedures.pdf
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https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism
http://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/studentmisconductprocedures.pdf
Academic Information
Course Evaluation and Development
Feedback on the course is gathered periodically using various means, including the UNSW
myExperience process, informal discussion in the final class for the course, and the School’s
Student/Staff meetings. Your feedback is taken seriously, and continual improvements are made to the
course based, in part, on such feedback.
All students are expected to read and be familiar with UNSW guidelines and polices. In particular,
students should be familiar with the following:
· Attendance
· UNSW Email Address
· Special Consideration
· Exams
· Approved Calculators
· Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
· Equitable Learning Services
CRICOS
CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Bedegal people who are the traditional custodians of the lands on which UNSW
Kensington campus is located.
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https://student.unsw.edu.au/attendance
https://www.myit.unsw.edu.au/services/students/email-students-and-staff
https://student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration
https://student.unsw.edu.au/exams
https://student.unsw.edu.au/exam-approved-calculators-and-computers
https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism
https://student.unsw.edu.au/els
Appendix: Engineers Australia (EA) Professional Engineer Competency
Standard
Program Intended Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and skill base
PE1.1 Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and
physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline
✔
PE1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and
computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline
✔
PE1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering
discipline
✔
PE1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the
engineering discipline
PE1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the
engineering discipline
PE1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of
sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline
✔
Engineering application ability
PE2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem
solving
✔
PE2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources ✔
PE2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes
PE2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering
projects
Professional and personal attributes
PE3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability
PE3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains ✔
PE3.3 Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour ✔
PE3.4 Professional use and management of information
PE3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct
PE3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership
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Staff Contact Details