phy641 Energy Resources & Systems (Complete module description)

After successful completion of the module students should be able to:

• characterize the global energy system and analyze the structure and constraints of today's energy system,
• explain the availability and connection between solar and wind energy,
• identify the problems and challenges of energy supply due to fluctuating energy resources with varying and seasonal load profiles,
• relate the solar irradiance conversion process as well as the atmospheric radiation balance of the earth to Wind Energy Meteorology.

This module will give an overview on the global energy system and the challenges of energy supply due to fluctuating energy resources with varying and seasonal load profiles.

Energy Meteorology (Lecture - 90 h workload)

Section I: Solar Irradiance

• Radiation laws,
• Solar geometry,
• Interaction of solar irradiance with the atmosphere,
• Radiation climatology,
• Solar radiation model,
• Statistical properties of solar irradiance,
• Measuring devices to ascertain solar radiation balance,
• Satellite-supported data acquisition to assess solar irradiance,

Section II: Wind Flow

• Origin and potential of atmospheric energy movements, Heat balance of the atmosphere,
• Physical laws of atmospheric flow,
• Wind circulation in the atmosphere, local winds,
• Wind flow in atmospheric layers (vertical structure, Ekman Layer),
• Assessment of wind potential (European Wind Atlas: model, concept,
• Wind Measurements,

Energy Systems (Lecture - 90 h workload)

• Definitions, separation electrical - thermal energy use,
• Resources and reserves,
• Energy system analysis: Efficiencies at various levels of the energy chain; Exergy analysis,
• Energy scenarios,
• Climate change,
• Advanced (power plant) technologies for conventional fuels,
• Electric power systems with large shares of renewables

Energy Meteorology:

• IEA Word Energy Outlook (http://wordenergyoutlook.org/)
• Iqbal, M. 1984: An Introduction to Solar Radiation, Academic Press, Toronto
• Liou, K.-N. 2002: An Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation, Academic Press: 2nd edition, Page 2 of 39
• Peixoto, J.P. and Oort A.H. 2007: Physics of Climate Book, Surge Publishing
• Rasmussen, B. 1988: Wind Energy, 2, Routledge: 1st edition
• Sathyajith, M. 2006: Wind energy: fundamentals, resource analysis and economics, Springer
• Stull, R.B. 1988: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Springer 1st edition

Energy Systems:

• Ramage, J.: Energy: A Guide Book (Oxford University Press, 1997)
• Boyle, G. et al. (Eds.): Energy Systems and Sustainability (Oxford University Press, 2003)
• Blok, K.: Introduction to Energy Analysis (Techne Press, Amsterdam, 2007)
• Houghton, J.: Global Warming: The Complete Briefing, 5th Ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2015)
• UNDP (Ed.): World Energy Assessment: Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability (2000/2004), http://www.undp.org/energy/weapub2000.htm
• GEA: Global Energy Assessment { Toward a Sustainable Future (Cambridge University Press and International Institute for Applied System Analysis, Laxenburg, 2012), www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/Flagship-Projects/Global-Energy-Assessment/Chapters_Home.en.html - Goldemberg, J. et al.: Energy for a Sustainable World (Wiley Eastern, 1988)
• Nakicenovic, N., A. Grübler and A. McDonald (Eds.): Global Energy Perspectives (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1998) - Khartchenko, N.V.: Advanced Energy Systems (Taylor and Francis, 1998)
• IEA (International Energy Agency): World Energy Statistics and Balances 2015 - BP: Statistical Review of World Energy 2016 (http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/ energy-economics.html)
• EIA: International Energy Outlook 2016 (www.eia.doe.gov/forecasts/ieo/)
• United Nations: 2013 Energy Statistics Yearbook (2016) (unstats.un.org/unsd/energy/yearbook/)

Module Capacity:
unrestricted