TEK9300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology

Course content

Renewable energy can be defined as energy generated from natural sources. This course will give an overview of the main scientific principles and technologies related to harnessing and conversion of the earth's renewable energy sources, combined with a wide range of case studies, and excursions at various research institutes and industries. Among the topics: indirect uses of solar energy, such as wind and hydroelectric power, bioenergy, non-solar renewable energy, such as tidal power, geothermal energy, integration into the grid system; sustainability of renewable energy, future prospects and policies scenario.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, you will know how to

• describe the various renewable energy sources and the possible conversion paths to a useful form of energy; learn the principles of the heat engine cycle
• describe the aerodynamics of wind turbines and calculate their power, energy production and the effect of the blade design; discuss the siting of turbines in relation to their output and their environmental impact
• explain the principles of hydroelectricity; describe how biomass is currently used as a source of energy, its future potential both in providing energy and in producing alternative fuels
• explain the physical principles of wave energy, the generation of tides and how to harness their power; describe the physics of geothermal resources, the thermal gradient and heat flow in sedimentary basins
• discuss the integration of intermittent renewable electricity into the grid system; compare the efficiency of different energy storage solutions (e.g. batteries, fuel cell and hydrogen storage); review the latest advancement in the materials development applied to renewable energy
• analyze the sustainability of renewable energy, the carbon abatement policies, the principles of CO2 capture and storage; gain an interdisciplinary approach to the issues raised by renewable energy; discuss how the risks and benefits of a particular strategy can be assessed
• write a critical perspective on a chosen topic in the form of an article to be published in an international journal, or in the form of an essay

Admission to the course

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

Master's students must register for TEK5300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology.

The courses TEK5300 and TEK9300 have common admission, with a maximum of 40 places. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:

1. Students with admission to the master's programme Renewable Energy Systems (master's two years).

2. PhD candidates at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum and visiting PhD candidates.

3. For the remaining places, students will be given admission on a first-come-first-served basis.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with TEK5300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology.
• 10 credits overlap with UNIK4800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued).
• 10 credits overlap with UNIK9800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued).

Teaching

The course has a minimus of 3 hours of lectures each week and/or could be organised as intensive sessions in agreement with the students, with individual and/or group exercises throughout the semester. There will be arranged visits to various research facilities.

The course literature will be given at the beginning of the course.

As a PhD candidate you will write a mandatory scientific paper or essay, and/or give an oral presentation on a topic agreed with the lecturer. 

Examination

• A final oral final exam counts 100% towards the final grade. In case of many students a written exam may be held instead. 

As a PhD candidate you will write a mandatory scientific paper or essay, and/or give an oral presentation on a topic agreed with the lecturer, which must be approved before you can sit the final exam. 

It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:

• TEK5300 – Renewable Energy: Science and Technology
• UNIK4800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued)
• UNIK9800 – Renewable Energy: science and technology (continued)

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.