Tools for Assessing Energy and Carbon

Overview

• Modelling mass, energy and carbon balances
• Methods and tools for collection and analysis of environmental sustainability and carbon data
• Applied life cycle analysis and carbon foot printing
• Tools for energy and carbon management

Learning Objectives

This module provides a greater understanding of the methods and tools that facilitate measurement and tracking of progress towards net-zero targets and furthermore provides an evidence base for decision making at different levels. Within the module we look at the tools and techniques that are used to measure environmental sustainability, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, waste, and water. We look at how these are applied across sectors and the challenges of their measurement, reporting and management.

At the end of the module students will be able to:

• Conduct energy and mass balances at different scales.
• Describe tools for quantifying/estimating the availability and consumption of resources including energy, water, carbon etc.
• Search and critically evaluate the literature and compile an inventory of technology performance assumptions and associated CO2-eq emissions;
• Apply knowledge and understanding of Life Cycle Analysis, Carbon-Foot Printing, Inventory and Model development and build computational models to undertake this analysis
• Predict the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of an action or decision.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of uncertainty and complexity in inventory development and modelling through the use of Sensitivity Analysis

Skills

Skills Associated With Module:
 Mathematical model development
 Core skills in underlying physical sciences, in particular physics and chemistry as applied to solving problems relevant to energy systems
 Critical evaluation
 Analytical skills

Assessment

Assessment: Coursework 100%

Course Requirements:
Coursework submission 100 %
Total Coursework elements must be passed at 50%