Energy and sustainability
- On this page
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | T213 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
Are fossil fuels running out? Can nuclear power, carbon capture and storage or renewable energy sources provide solutions to the problem of global warming? How can we provide clean, safe, sustainable energy supplies for the UK, and the world, despite increasing population levels and affluence? In this course you will look at the basic principles underlying the design and efficient use of energy and energy supply systems. Using a range of study materials and online activities, you will learn to use the appropriate scientific and mathematical techniques applied to energy related issues.
Modules at Level 2 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at Level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.
Register for the course
What you will study
Each one of us is inextricably linked to energy use, and each of us probably has different perspectives on sustainability. Whatever your energy background and perspectives, this course explores the issues linked to energy and sustainability.
Energy Systems and Sustainability – Power for a Sustainable Future is the core teaching text for this course, along with online activities to test your energy related skills and informative videos which explain all you need to know about energy.
The course and book are arranged in study weeks and cover the following topics:
- Primary energy – where you’ll explore the presentation and interpretation of date and gain an overview of the world’s primary energy situation, its recent history and its problems.
- What do we use energy for? A tour of all the different ways of using energy and how these have changed over the centuries.
- Different forms of energy – you’ll investigate some basic ideas around this subject.
- Coal – a concise ‘biography’ of this critical fuel in the past and the future.
- Heat to motive power – a detailed look at this most important energy conversion process that underlies much of the energy services we enjoy from transport to electricity
- Oil and gas – a look at these close cousins from their formation to the prospect of their ultimate depletion
- Oil and gas engines – a review of three types of internal combustion engine designs that have influenced the twentieth century.
- Transport and sustainability – an overview of this fast changing topic from both a technological and behavioural perspective.
- Electricity – exploring this most critical ‘secondary fuel’ – its history and future as part of a sustainable energy system.
- Energy in buildings – an introduction to this topic focusing on improving insulation standards and heating efficiency in the housing stock.
- Nuclear power – a review of the present situation, background science and the types of reactor designs currently in use.
- The future of nuclear power – an exploration of various issues concerning its immediate and long-term future.
- Renewable energy – an overview of key renewable energy technologies.
- Costing energy – learn how to understand basic techniques including discounted cash flow.
- Penalties – a detailed look at the various techniques for assessing the impacts of energy use – from local air pollution to climate change.
- Remedies for a sustainable energy system – a critical look at how to make fossil fuel use more sustainable.
You will also have access to an electronic version of the companion volume Renewable Energy and a range of other study materials from our website.
You will learn
By the end of the course you will be able to understand and describe:
- the forms of energy and the various definitions of ‘sustainable’ energy, and the relevance of sustainability to the design and implementation of energy systems
- the principal sources of primary energy in use today, their development over the past century, and the general patterns of world, regional and national energy consumption
- the basic principles underlying the design and use of energy supply systems, and the basic principles underlying the efficient use of energy
- the pollutants produced through the combustion of fossil fuels, their environmental impacts and the amelioration of these.
You will also be able to demonstrate the following:
- evaluate different energy technologies, in terms of their economics and environmental impacts
- compare different techniques available for minimizing the level of pollutants generated by various energy sources and systems
- compare the relative resource depletion impacts of different energy technologies.
Vocational relevance
You may be interested in a professional career in the energy industry; or may be concerned about the sustainability problems associated with our current energy issues. This course will help you to:
- undertake cost related analyses of proposed or existing energy projects or technologies
- present arguments relating to energy use and its impacts taking account of environmental, technological and social perspectives
- use appropriate scientific and mathematical techniques applied to energy-related issues or contexts
- analyse information about energy and its use from a variety of sources, using ICT tools
- communicate scientific and technical information, and arguments relating to energy, clearly in a variety of ways.
Entry
This is a Level 2 course and you need to have a good knowledge of the subject area, obtained either through Level 1 study with the OU, or by doing equivalent work at another university.
We recommend that you start with one of our key introductory Level 1 courses: Exploring science (S104), Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116) or Engineering the future (T173).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, including the mathematical skills required, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service or visit the Maths for Energy website which contains a self-assessment quiz to help you decide if this course is appropriate for you .
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Services for disabled students website for more information, including:
- help to determine your study requirements and how to request the support that you need
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- using a computer for OU study
- equipment and other support services that we offer
- examination arrangements
- how to contact us for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Core textbook Everett, B., Boyle, G., Peake, S. and Ramage, J. (2012) Energy Systems and Sustainability, Power for a Sustainable Future (2nd edn). All other study materials including study guides, assignments, audio podcast and videos will be available via the course website.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
- If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
- If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. There may be a mix of face-to-face and online tutorials. How tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course in your area.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
Professional recognition
The Open University is a Learning Affiliate Member of the Energy Institute.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.
Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
Undergraduate
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | T213 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| 1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
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