Course Outline
ENS281 Sustainable Energy Systems
Course Coordinator:Arvind Prasad (aprasad1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Semester 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
This course provides you with an introduction to energy systems so that you may understand the physical processes that govern energy conversion into forms used by society. It provides a basis with which you may form considered arguments relating to the long term suitability of various energy technologies. The balance between theory and practice provides a solid foundation for further studies in sustainable development and renewable energy.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Information session – Course Overview | 1hr | Week 1 | Once Only |
| Learning materials – Videos on key theories and demonstrating solutions to example problems. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Discussion of key concepts, examples and practice problem solving | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Laboratory 1 – Fortnightly lab classes working in groups to conduct experiments and prepare individual reports | 3hrs | Week 3 | 6 times |
Course Topics
- Energy sources - demand and supply
- Sun - Earth interactions, Global circulation, Weather, Radiant energy, Photovoltaics
- Fluids - Wind & Hydro power
- Wave energy - Earth-moon system, tides
- Heat engines - Geothermal energy, Fuels and Greenhouse gases
- Fuel cells, Environmental impacts
What level is this course?
200 Level (Developing)
Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Communicate concepts and theory relevant to sustainable energy systems |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
1.1, 3.2 |
| 2 | Apply comprehensive theory-based understanding of the principles of energy conversion to solve practical problems. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered Sustainability-focussed |
1.1, 1.3 |
| 3 | Demonstrate knowledge of the function and operation of energy conversion devices. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
1.1, 1.3 |
| 4 | Work in a team to collect, analyse and evaluate data obtained from experimental investigations |
Knowledgeable Empowered Ethical |
3.2, 3.6 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1.1 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. |
| 1.3 | Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. |
| 3.2 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. |
| 3.6 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective team membership and team leadership. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Not applicable
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Good English comprehension and writing skills; Ability to carry out algebraic manipulation of formulae and perform numerical calculations.
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Students will receive feedback on their learning progress through weekly non-assessable tutorial exercises. Tutors will be available in tutorial classes to provide individual feedback, guidance and learning support.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 20% | 60 minutes |
Week 7 | In Class |
| All | 2 | Report | Individual | 30% | 6 x reports |
Refer to Format | In Class |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 50% | 3 hours |
Exam Period | Online Test (Quiz) |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Mid Semester Exam | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The mid-semester examination gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, understanding and skills associated with the learning outcomes in weeks 1 - 6 of this course. |
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| Product: | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | Individual Mixed practical and theoretical written questions During tutorial class in week 7 |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Practical Class Reports | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | To enhance your knowledge and understanding of the theory by performing and analysing results from experiments related to sustainable energy systems. |
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| Product: | Report | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | Hardcopy (paper) submission to the course coordinator. Submit: In class at the completion of the laboratory classes |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:End of Semester Exam | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | To demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of sustainable energy technologies and principles, and solve problems using appropriate techniques and relevant theory. |
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| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||
| Format: | Individual. Mixed practical and theoretical written questions. During Central Examination Period. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Schedule
| Period and Topic | Activities |
1 Overview and examples of Energy Sources, Global circulation and weather. Basic principles of fluid mechanics; Bernoulli’s principle, power in flow. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
2 Wind Energy: Aerofoils, propellers and turbines, Power extraction from fluids. Wind and Hydroelectric power generation. Wind Energy |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
3. Wave energy: Global wave activity, extraction of energy from wave motion. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions Practical 1 - Report writing |
4 Tidal Energy: Earth - moon system, tides, geographic tidal variation, energy availability and extraction, Hydro power and electricity generation. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
5 Heat Transfer and Insulation, thermal conductivity, R-values, Conduction, Convection and Radiation. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions Practical 2 - Report writing |
6 Heat, basic principle of heat engines, thermal efficiency, use and conversion of heat, Geothermal energy Insulation and Heat Transfer |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
7 Solar Radiation. Geometry of the Earth and Sun, extraterrestrial solar radiation. |
Mid-semester Exam Practical 3 - Report writing |
8 Effects of the Earth’s atmosphere, terrestrial radiation, solar radiation profiles and availability. Solar Collectors. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
9 Physical systems: Solar thermal systems, radiant energy, optics of collectors, energy conversion. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions Practical 4 - Report writing |
10 Physical systems. Photovoltaics: Semiconductors, solar cell construction, power from solar cells, performance characteristics, arrays of cells, concentrators. Photovoltaics: Electricity from light. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
11 Chemical Sources of Energy: Fossil fuels. Types of fossil fuels, calorific yield, energy conversion. Combustion; Greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen, Fuel cells and batteries. Pollution. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions Practical 5 - Report writing |
12 Biomass and Biofuels: biofuel classification, biomass production, direct combustion, pyrolysis, ethanol and methane production, alcoholic fermentation, anaerobic digestion, biodiesel, wastes and residues. Power from Fuel cells and other storage device |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions |
13 Course revision and review. |
Online learning materials, Tutorials, Readings, online research. Practice with tutorial questions Practical 6 - Report writing |
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
Scientific calculator, or a more advanced calculator if you prefer
How are risks managed in this course?
Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconductAssessment: Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
- In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au