Energy for a sustainable future
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| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
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Summary
How can we provide clean, safe, environmentally-sustainable energy supplies for Britain, Europe and the world as a whole during the twenty-first century, despite rising population and increasing affluence? You will study the sustainability problems of our conventional fossil and nuclear fuel use, and how they might be relieved; explore the technological and social possibilities for using energy much more efficiently; and investigate various renewable-energy sources (such as solar, wind and biofuels) that significantly reduce effects on the environment. In the course project, you research and write a sustainable energy proposal for your own home, workplace, or community.
Course content
This course explores the main factors likely to influence the long-term evolution of the world’s energy systems, and the technologies and policies that could be adopted to create more sustainable energy systems during the twenty-first century.
The course is divided into four blocks, three are supported by substantial, highly illustrated textbooks, video programmes on DVD, computer-based exercises and a study guide. The final block is supported by printed text, a DVD and readings to be downloaded from the student course website.
Block One deals with conventional energy systems and their sustainability. It begins by explaining basic energy concepts and describing the magnitudes and patterns of human energy needs at various levels. Then comes an overview of the fossil and nuclear-fuelled energy systems that, together with hydroelectric power and traditional biofuels, supply most of the world’s commercial energy needs. A section on costing describes the basic methods by which the monetary costs of energy are calculated. The concluding sections deal with the sustainability problems associated with both fossil and nuclear fuel use, and ways in which they might be ameliorated by various technological and social developments.
Block Two, on renewable energy, provides a comprehensive overview of the principal renewable energy sources: solar thermal energy; solar photovoltaics; bioenergy; hydroelectricity, tidal and wave power; wind power; and geothermal energy. For each source, the physical and technological principles are explained and the economics, environmental impacts and future prospects are examined.
Block Three covers energy management and conservation. It starts with a sizeable section devoted to energy use in ground transport. This examines the technological and non-technical approaches to reducing its environmental impact. These include possibilities for more fuel-efficient cars, alternative fuels and initiatives such as encouraging car-sharing and increased use of public transport. The block continues with a section on saving energy in buildings, looking at the technological possibilities; better insulation, improved heating efficiency and ways of reducing electricity demand and the UK national potential. It also looks at the problems of assessing energy savings. These topics are illustrated with a video on energy use in the buildings of three UK hospitals. It concludes with a discussion of the evolution of national energy efficiency and conservation policies and examining the conflicts and compromises involved in integrating them with other national policies.
Block Four deals with the longer-term prospects for sustainable energy. It examines how patterns of energy use have changed in the past and are likely to change again in future, on both national and world scales. It discusses how appropriate balances might be struck between the different approaches to improving energy sustainability that have been described in the three earlier blocks. This block concludes by comparing and contrasting long-term energy scenarios, national and worldwide, that have been developed by governmental and non-governmental bodies. These bring in a wide variety of assumptions about population and economic growth and the potential for energy conservation or efficiency improvement, and different combinations of carbon-based and carbon-free energy sources.
Associated with the blocks are computer-based exercises designed to develop your understanding of basic physical, economic and environmental concepts. Computer conferencing is strongly encouraged, so that you can take part in online discussions and study groups. The course website gives easy access to additional resources. The video programmes associated with each block include case studies, interviews and animations illustrating sustainable energy projects in the UK and other countries, to broaden your understanding of the systems, processes and people involved. The last part of the course consists of a project in which you investigate and report on the feasibility of a proposed sustainable energy scheme.
By the end of the course you should be able to:
- understand the physical and technological principles of energy supply systems based on fossil, nuclear and renewable sources, and of efficient energy use in buildings, industry and transport
- recognise the main factors that determine the economic viability of energy generation, energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement measures
- discuss the sustainability problems associated with energy use and how they might be resolved by technological and social measures
- perform simple energy-related calculations
- undertake an elementary economic analysis of an energy project, taking into account the effect of such factors as discount rates and project lifetimes
- manipulate computer models of energy systems to determine the likely effect of varying input parameters on energy output or economic viability
- develop your own spreadsheet-based model of an energy system.
As part of your project you will have experience of writing a detailed feasibility study of an energy project, including an assessment of its technological, economic and environmental aspects.
Entry
This is a Level 2 course and it has been devised to suit students from a wide range of backgrounds. Its beginning is designed to bring everyone to the same level of understanding, although you will have a slightly heavier workload in the first few weeks if the ideas are entirely new to you. If you have not studied with The Open University before, we advise you to start with a course at Level 1. If you have not studied maths recently, we suggest you start with one of our 10-point courses, either Starting with maths (Y162) or Science starts here (S154).
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
T206 is an optional course in our
- Diploma in Physical Science (E04)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Environmental Studies (B19)
- BSc (Honours) Physical Science (B27)
- BSc (Honours) Secondary Education in Physics (B56)
- BSc (Honours) Technology (B20)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Design and Innovation (B61)
- Advanced Diploma in Environmental Decision Making (C18)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (B24)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it can help to weight your degree towards a BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and the internet. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, study guides, other printed materials, DVDs, CD-ROM, online forums, course website.
You will need
DVD player.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running windows Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.
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 can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
One of the TMAs is a double-weighted project. Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. But if you unavoidably miss or do badly in an assignment, some courses allow you a ‘substitution score’. In T206 this rule can apply to the second, third, fourth or fifth assignment only. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2011. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Environment, Development and International Studies, Engineering and Technology and Science.
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Student Reviews
This course is brilliant value for money. The amount of content delivered through the course materials and on-line updates is ...
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I chose this course having previously completed another course, "Technology for a Sustainable Future". Little did I know that T206 ...
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