AE-343 Arctic Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Construction and Operation (10 ECTS)
ID:
AE-343
CREDITS:
10 ECTS
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
April 15, 2024
START DATE:
November 04, 2024
END DATE:
December 10, 2024
COURSE PERIOD:
Autumn semester (Block 7)
Students investigating the new solar panels at Linken. Field visit for AGF-353. Photo: Lars Henrik Smedsrud/UNIS
| Grade: | Letter grade (A through F) |
| Course Cost: | TBA |
| Course Capacity Min/Max: | 10/25 students |
| Credit reduction / overlap: | 10 ECTS with AE-843 |
| Language of instruction: | English |
| Examination support material: | Bilingual dictionary between English and mother tongue |
Course requirements
Enrolment in a relevant master programme.
Academic content
The course is intended for students with interests and background in Environmental/Energy engineering, Applied mathematics, Applied physics, Mechanics, Structural engineering (dynamics), Meteorology, or a related subject directly relevant. Renewable energy is a prioritised theme in Svalbard and globally due to the goal to reduce the current dependency on fossil fuels. Several Svalbard companies are shifting to more environmentally friendly alternatives and construction of these systems in the Arctic poses unique logistical and technical challenges due to the extreme Arctic environment, which includes snow, ice and permafrost, but also the isolation and remoteness. Of particular importance is how the Arctic climatic conditions influence the constructions when building, operating and maintaining the systems. Smart grids, off-grid systems and how to incorporate renewable energy in existing grids is also vital for Arctic renewable energy systems.
Specific topics:
- Introduction to construction of renewable energy systems in the Arctic
- How solar panels and wind turbines respond to icing and snowdrift
- Constructions in low temperatures
- How to build renewable energy systems on permafrost
- The use of smart grids in the Arctic
- Off-grid systems
- Particular challenges for off-shore energy systems
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, the students will be able to:
Knowledge
- know and understand the basic requirements and limitations for building, operating, and maintaining safe and cost-effective renewable energy systems in the Arctic
- understand how the Arctic climate affects the renewable energy systems and what makes that unique
- understand of how renewable energy systems in the Arctic can be used in smart grids, off-grid systems and challenges of incorporating them in existing energy grids
Skills
- identify the challenges of building, maintaining and operating renewable energy at specific sites in the Arctic
- mitigate climatic impact on constructions of renewable energy in the Arctic
- control small scale smart grids as well as off-grid systems
General competences
- perform field experiments operations, collect data using scientific instruments, and process data
- communicate research results orally and in writing
- read and critically discuss scientific literature
- be prepared at an advanced level, for future positions within research on renewable energy in the Arctic research, or the industry
Learning activities
The course extends over 5-6 weeks including compulsory safety training, and will run in combination with AE-843.
Learning activities consist of lectures, seminars, field excursions, fieldwork, assignments, and project works in groups.
The lectures outline the theoretical aspects of building, operating and maintaining renewable energy systems in the Arctic, while the field excursions and field work will give hands-on experience of Arctic possibilities and constraints. Scientific literature and results from project works will be discussed in seminars.
Summary
- Total lecture hours: 35 hours
- Total seminar hours: 10 hours
- Total exercise hours: 10 hours
- Field work: 40 hours
- Report writing: 60 hours
- Self-studies: 100 hours
Compulsory learning activities
- Safety training
- Seminars
- Assignments
- Fieldwork
- Presentations
All compulsory learning activities must be approved in order to sit the exam.
Assessment
| Method | Duration | Percentage of final grade |
| Group project report (written and oral) | 25% | |
| Oral exam | 75% |
All assessments must be passed in order to pass the course.
Each assessment is graded and subsequently combined into a single grade. Partial grades for each assessment will be available.