Master of Energy Systems

AIMS

This subject provides a general introduction to the many issues that need to be considered when examining the global energy system.

These include -

• A brief history of different forms of energy and energy technologies
• The historical relationship between energy use and industrialisation
• The social, environmental and economic costs and benefits of different forms of energy and energy technology
• An introduction to energy resources and resource economics
• A brief review of the costs of different forms of energy
• Historical, current and projected energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutant emissions
• Opportunities for greenhouse gas mitigation.

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AIMS

This subject forms one of the core units in the Masters of Energy Systems and the overall aims are to introduce the students to the tools and skills needed to analyse energy systems. To accomplish this overall aim, the subject introduces material and energy balances used in energy system calculations, and introduces and applies the Laws of Thermodynamics to simple energy systems.

This subject, together with ENGR90028 Introduction to Energy Systems, ENGR90030 Non-Renewable Energy, SCIE90014 Renewable Energy and ENGR90032 Energy Supply and Value Chains provide the core technical content for the Masters of Energy Systems.

The ability to analyse existing or new proposed energy systems is essential in assessing the merits and economics of our energy supply. This subject gives the students the opportunity to learn and apply these fundamental tools and skills with relevant and realistic energy systems.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Topics include:

• Thermodynamic properties
• Equations of state
• The conservation of energy in and around energy processing systems
• Evaluation of enthalpy changes with and without phase change
• Simplified energy balances for batch, steady-state and adiabatic systems
• Estimation of heats of combustion
• Simultaneous material and energy balances
• Entropy, the Second Law of Thermodynamics and Carnot’s principle
• Simple thermodynamic cycles
• Exercises in process optimisation and the solution of ill-defined process problems.

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AIMS

This subject provides an overview of electrical power systems for students without a significant background in Electrical Engineering. It will cover the basic elements of electrical power systems including generation, transmission and distribution.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Specific topics covered include:

• Electrical Network Basics: current, voltage, resistance, analysis of resistive circuits, capacitance, inductance, sinusoidal-steady state analysis;
• Power System Analysis: AC power, transformers, generators, loads, three-phase systems, power lines, power flow analysis, reliability and stability;
• Power System Operation: planning, scheduling, distributed generation, electricity markets, smart grid.

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This subject is designed to equip students with the tools necessary to enable them to make the core decisions faced by managers and investors. The first part of the subject deals with establishing the environment in which organizations operate, namely the objectives of the suppliers of financial and human capital. The subject then considers the basic tools commonly employed by financial managers and investors including discounted cash flow techniques and financial mathematics. Measures and definitions of alternative forms of risk are considered and the relation between risk and expected reward in capital markets is established. Finally, the subject considers the important decisions faced by firms (such as investment, financing and dividend policy) and by investors (the composition of their optimal portfolio of stocks).

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AIMS

This subject examines in detail the main forms of non-renewable energy and their uses, including:

• The composition and origin of coal, oil, natural gas and uranium
• The performance of coal, gas, liquid fuel and nuclear power generation
• The performance of power plants featuring steam turbines, gas turbines and reciprocating engines.

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This subject examines the science, technology and policy instruments of a broad range of renewable energy technologies including solar, wind and water as well as other thermal renewables. Specifically, the subject covers:

• Solar: Overview of the fundamental physics of solar radiation; Technical details of photovoltaic cells and concentrating solar power systems
• Wind and water: Overview of the fundamental physics of motion involved in energy in wind & water; Technical details of wind turbines and hydro-power systems, including pumped Hydro-Energy Storage
• Other thermal renewables: Overview of the chemistry and technologies for biomass for heat and electricity and liquid biofuels
• Renewable integration and policy: Overview of renewable energy policy considerations; Understanding challenges of integration of renewables into power systems. This includes managing variability and the opportunities provided by storage and demand-side management.

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This subject provides an introduction to the fundamentals of microeconomics, strategy and key issues in macroeconomics, and applies this knowledge to business and management issues. Topics to be covered include: the working of competitive markets; the operation of business organisations such as cost management and pricing decisions; strategic behaviour and market outcomes in different market environments; the effect of public policy on business organisations; and the main macroeconomic influences on the business environment.

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This subject will examine the supply and value chains of the major forms of energy used globally. It will examine energy markets in detail, including

• Network delivery markets for electricity and natural gas;
• Discrete delivery markets for oil and its products, natural gas, coal and uranium;
• Integration of public policy considerations, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, other pollutant emissions, renewable energy incentives, installed capacity and essential service requirements;

and

• The relationship between financial markets and energy markets.

These topics will all carefully consider how physical and technical limitations impact market performance.

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AIMS

This subject involves students working individually on a particular project topic in agreement with an academic staff supervisor and, preferably, an external supervisor. The student will undertake a cross-disciplinary analysis of the agreed topic, spanning at least 2 of the technological, economic/financial and policy areas.

As part of the external supervision, it is preferred that the student spend time undertaking a placement at the external supervisor's organisation working on this project.

Students can undertake this project only if their average mark for the subjects previously undertaken in this degree is at least 75%, and can find a suitably qualified member of the University academic staff to supervise them.

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Diverse stakeholders are increasingly demanding information about the broader social and environmental dimensions of organizational performance. Incorporating this information into decision-making is complex because it tends to be non-financial in nature and traditional models tend to focus on financial information. This course will investigate issues associated with production, reporting, and use of sustainability related information for decision-making. At a broader level, the course will help students to develop their critical thinking and analytical skills to help them apply their knowledge to settings where extant models do not fit well.

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AIMS

This subject will give an overview of petroleum and energy resources engineering, the technology and the economics.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

The subject will present details on the types of fossil fuels available (coal, oil, natural gas), the geology involved in their formation and the underlying chemistry for power generation. Aspects of petroleum reservoir engineering will be detailed, including exploration, well drilling and reservoir control. The subsequent petroleum product processing will be explained, including refinery and subsequent chemical processing, including the various usages of petroleum products. The combustion of fossil fuels for power generation will be described, with detailed analysis of carbon emissions and reduction strategies, including carbon capture and storage. This will also involve details on enhanced oil recovery. Future fuels that replace petroleum, including hydrogen and methanol, will also be presented in terms of their potential, chemical synthesis and usage. In addition, economics of power generation will be covered, in terms of cost of electricity and carbon accounting, along with health and safety, risk assessment and management and legal issues of petroleum engineering.

Please view this video for further information: Future Fuels and Petroleum

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AIMS

This subject introduces the fundamental concepts of computing programming, and how to solve simple problems using high-level procedural language, with a specific emphasis on data manipulation, transformation, and visualisation of data.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Fundamental programming constructs; fundamental data structures; abstraction; basic program structures; algorithmic problem solving; use of modules.

The subject assumes no prior knowledge of computer programming and is not suitable for students with prior programming experience.

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The aim of this subject is to provide students with an introduction to urban traffic engineering and transport planning principles. General theory as well as analytical techniques for solving common transport engineering and modelling problems are presented. The key theme in this subject is how to improve the efficiency and sustainability of transport systems. This includes basics of traffic flow theory, simulation, and operation models, and understanding and predicting travel demand in urban transport networks. Behavioural choice modelling methods are used with real data from the Melbourne Metropolitan Area to predict demand for all modes of transport including public transport and non-motorised transport modes. The concepts of accessibility, efficiency and sustainability are introduced in the context of urban transport systems, and transport safety measures and best practices are also introduced.

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AIMS

This subject develops a foundation for pursuing electrical engineering oriented research in the area of sustainable energy systems. This subject aims to introduce the concepts behind smart grids, future low-carbon energy networks, sustainable electricity systems as well as the main renewable and low-carbon generation technologies. The subject will introduce students to tools and techniques so that distributed energy resources (e.g. distributed renewable generation, storage, electric vehicles, demand response, etc.) may be integrated effectively into the power system in the context of both traditional grids and future smart grids.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Distributed low-carbon technologies
• Introduction to distribution networks
• Introduction to distributed low-carbon technologies (wind energy, photovoltaic systems, electric vehicles, electric heating, storage)
• Wind Energy: impacts and challenges
• Photovoltaic systems: impacts and challenges
• Electric vehicles: impacts and challenges
• Electric heat pumps and electric heating: impacts and challenges
• Storage: impacts and challenges

Smart Distribution and Smart Transmission Networks

• Distributed low-carbon technologies and active network management
• Towards Smart Grids
• Smart grids - Transmission and Distribution perspectives
• Smart Transmission: HVDC and FACTS, dynamic line rating, post-contingency security, special protection schemes
• The role of future Distribution System Operators

Low-carbon Electricity System

• Towards low-carbon networks: relationship between sustainability and smart grids
• Introduction to low-carbon thermal generation (nuclear, Carbon Capture and Storage, Concentrated Solar Power, biomass, etc.)
• Utility-scale renewable technologies: wind farms; solar farms; other large-scale renewables; utility-scale batteries
• System-level operational challenges and solutions for renewables integration: variability and uncertainty; low-inertia operation; low system-strength operation; minimum load issues; DER visibility; indistinct events; general stability issues; flexibility
• System-level planning challenges and solutions for renewables integration: system adequacy and reliability; capacity credit of renewables and storage; extreme weather events and resilience; role of transmission
• Sector coupling and multi-energy systems: decarbonisation of gas, heating and transport; role of hydrogen
• Distributed energy systems: new technical and commercial architectures for two-sided systems and markets; demand response; aggregators and virtual power plants; distributed energy markets; peer-to-peer trading; local energy communities; microgrids

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AIMS

This subject provides a multi-disciplinary overview of the design of sustainable buildings and considers the design from an architectural, services engineering, facade engineering, environmental engineering and structural engineering, tenants and owners perspective. A number of industry based case study examples will be introduced to complement the lectures.

This subject uses a project based learning project where students work in teams to design a new or refurbished commercial building to improve the environmental and social performance of the building. Students learn to apply sustainability-rating tools used in industry to their solutions.

Students in the subject come from different disciplinary backgrounds, principally engineering and architecture, and are expected to share their knowledge and learn from each other to successfully complete the project work. This stands them in good stead for entering professional practice in the area of sustainability.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Topics include: ecological sustainable design, life cycle analysis, planning for sustainable buildings and cities, regulatory environment, barriers to green buildings, green building rating tools, material selection, embodied energy, operating energy, indoor environmental quality (noise, light and air), facade systems, ventilation systems, transportation, water treatment systems, water efficiency, building economics, and staff productivity. These will be covered in the following thematic areas:

• Sustainable Cities
• Sustainable Precincts
• Building Envelope
• Building services - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
• Building services - Energy
• Building Services - water
• Existing Buildings
• Green Building Rating Tools
• ESD Drivers and Barriers
• ESD Economics
• the process of a green building - 60L CH2
• Business Perspective
• Case Studies.

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AIMS

This subject provides the application of principles of solar energy engineering. A number of solar technologies and applications methods are investigated.

This subject uses a project based learning where students work in teams to design a solar system for a particular application considering environmental, social and financial constraints. Students learn to apply the principles of solar energy and design.

Knowledge gained in this subject will allow graduates to practice in the area of renewable energy industry. The subject complements other subjects offered in the energy theme of the Department such as Energy for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

• Introduction to Solar Energy in the energy economy; Fundamental heat & mass transfer; Radiation properties of materials; and selective surfaces
• Solar Geometry and solar angles; atmospheric effects and radiation prediction; and Solar radiation measurement
• Flat plate collectors design and performance characteristic
• Concentrating collectors design and performance characteristic; Evacuated tube collectors
• Solar System design methods
• Fundamentals of photovoltaic systems
• Solar process heating
• Solar drying, Solar cookers, Green houses and Solar stills
• Solar water pumping; Solar refrigeration
• Built environment applications passive and active systems
• Solar hot water and solar heat pump systems.

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AIMS

Students will learn how to structure and work with engineering contracts to deliver and procure engineering outcomes in this subject. Students will develop a working knowledge of contract administration and gain an understanding of commercial aspects of engineering. All engineers interface commercially with engineering contracts throughout their careers, and thus the application of the subject content is broad. Those seeking to work as a contractor and as a contract administrator will find a direct application of this subject’s content. Students will learn how to use procurement and contracts to develop successful engineering projects. This includes administration of the contracts and understanding the business environment where these contracts are agreed. These skills will be useful to students in their future work and apply to a wide range of engineering disciplines.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Management of engineering projects. This includes the role and responsibilities of corporate managers, market analysis, structuring of procurement options, development of contractual terms and conditions and the pricing of work.

Estimating and tendering engineering works via work breakdown structures, work method statements, risk identification and tendering principles. The study material also covers contract administration and project control functions and techniques including time and money negotiations and cash flow management.

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This subject describes the physics of the climate system, and how the system is represented in numerical models.

Key aspects include:

• Radiation balance and heat balance of the earth
• Carbon dioxide, water vapour and other Greenhouse Gas absorption spectra
• Other key climate drivers including solar variability, aerosols and clouds
• The global carbon cycle and the modelling of other greenhouse gases
• Impacts of climate change including sea level rise and extreme events

It covers aspects of uncertainty and chaos to understand why climate models are imperfect but invaluable tools. Students will build a simple climate model and run numerical experiments with different greenhouse gases. Existing knowledge in python programming is recommended but can be acquired throughout the course. The subject will also briefly discuss the processes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The 12 lectures cover the following themes: 1. Introduction; 2. Radiative forcing; 3. Climate feedbacks; 4. Carbon & gas cycles; 5. Oceans & sea level rise; 6. Aerosols & Clouds; 7. Variability and El Nino*; 8. Water Cycle and Extremes; 9. Ensemble & probabilistic projections, D&A; 10. Scenarios, carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management; 11. Climate Targets, carbon budgets and the Paris Agreement*; 12. Wrap Up

The lectures are accompanied with weekly exercises that provide students with hands-on conceptual learning, modelling and data analysis experience.

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Climate change is increasingly necessitating systemic change to the structure of the global economy and financial system. This subject will examine the interaction between climate change law and policy and these systemic changes. It considers a range of legal, policy and financial tools that governments around the world have used to try and manage responses to climate change, such as carbon pricing, green fiscal spending, climate risk disclosure and emissions regulations. It critically evaluates these legal, financial and policy approaches, and the economic theory underpinning them.

Our subject introduces students to these climate change legal and policy approaches through case studies across different themes (carbon markets, sustainable finance, energy, transportation) and geographies. Guest speakers with legal, sustainable investment and public policy backgrounds will join the course to speak to some of these case studies. By drawing together economic theory and practitioner-informed case studies, we will provide students with the knowledge, tools, and networks to critically assess and participate in the future development of regulatory regimes, policies and financial mechanisms which might help arrest global warming.

Indicative list of principal topics:

• An introduction to climate science,
• Key debates in climate change economics
• International and domestic law frameworks
• Market-based legal mechanisms: pricing carbon externalities
• Information based regulatory approaches to carbon emissions
• Emerging legal risks – greenwashing, climate litigation and investor actions
• Green industrial policy, state-owned enterprises and innovation ecosystems
• Emissions caps, performance standards and other forms of regulation

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The use of mathematical optimisation is widespread in business, where it is a key analytical tool for managing and planning business operations. It is also required in many industrial processes and is useful to government and community organizations. This subject will expose students to operations research techniques as used in industry. A heavy emphasis will be placed on the modelling process that turns an industrial problem into a mathematical formulation. The focus will then be on how to solve the resulting mathematical problem with mixed-integer programming techniques.

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This subject introduces students to the different types of information that business analysts and decision makers gather, and how that information is processed to make effective business decisions. A wide range of strategic and operational business problems and decisions will be considered, from fields such as financial management, marketing, human resource management, supply chain management and international business. The subject explores how organisations gather and generate multiple forms of information, and how this information is analysed and converted into useful knowledge via individual judgement and organisational learning processes. In applying empirical and analytical approaches to practical situations, students will develop insights into both the nature of the business problems as well as methods that are used for identifying and evaluating alternative solutions. The subject content will include conceptual foundations, practical tools, and case studies to discuss the costs, benefits and risks of the various analytical methods that will be introduced.

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