Engineering for Large-Scale Energy Conversion and Storage

The aim of the minor is to equip bachelor engineering students with selected knowledge and skills concerning energy conversion and storage systems and component technologies that are based on renewable resources, which are as such mostly fluctuating and not-well predictable. Electricity is not easily and cost-effectively stored, so a mismatch –both in time and geographically- between demand and supply of power is a real societal challenge. Also, storage of electricity needs to be accomplished at widely varying time scales to cope with fast weather fluctuations, day-night rhythm, occurrence of larger weather systems’ effects and seasonal variation of supply.

This minor will deal with providing the fundamentals of a the most relevant intermittent renewable energy supply systems, wind and solar energy systems. Furthermore, systems analysis performance evaluation courses (energy storage, life cycle assessment) and practical studies (system modelling of energy conversion and storage systems and component level study design/research project) will be offered to enable students to make an evaluation of a large renewables based energy conversion and storage system.

The difference with other existing minors that are offered within TU Delft is that a group of renewable energy systems is considered here in the framework of the challenge of storing energy at different time scales, taking a systems evaluation and practical component study approach together, which is unique. In summary, the topic of the minor is highly relevant due to the energy transition the world faces. Because the minor provides a comprehensive introduction to renewable energies, providing fundamental and practical knowledge and skills to students in this domain, it will be attractive and challenging to our engineering students.

The minor ‘ELECS’ will provide students with an attractive constellation of curriculum courses and a multi-disciplinary integrated project concerning the topic of energy conversion and storage engineering. Aspects of variability in power (and heat) production characteristics and demand matching issues will be dealt with, combined with the evaluation of conversion characteristics and energy system evaluation. The undergraduate student having followed this Minor will be able to:

• Understand and apply knowledge of renewable power and heat supply systems
• Apply process calculations for energy conversion and storage systems based on thermodynamics, mass and heat transfer and fluid mechanics
• Evaluate systems based on the concepts of exergy analysis and life cycle assessment
• Provide insights into current state of the art and future trends in energy engineering
• Synthesize their knowledge and competences in a final design project, including aspects of technical communication (presentations, technical report writing).

Registration for this thematic minor is on a first-come, first-served basis and available places. (No lottery draw).

Targeted students for the Minor ‘ELECS’ are those with an engineering basic knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer and/or fluid mechanics; i.e. students of Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Technology Policy and Management, and Civil Engineering (Strictly: MT, Wb, CT, EEMCS, TA, AE, TB, LST, MST, NB, TN).

Student at Leiden University, TU Delft or Erasmus University Rotterdam?
Check the eligibility matrix to see if your bachelor’s degree programme offers access to this and other minors at https://www.tudelft.nl/minor

Student at another educational institution?
External students cannot register via EduXchange. Interested in this minor, read the whole registration procedure at https://www.tudelft.nl/minor

For information about the courses, visit the TU Delft study guide.
For additional information on this minor, visit the TU Delft minor page.

Teaching method and examination differ per course; regular courses are mostly assessed by a blend of small projects/assignments and an individual written exam. The Design Project is a group project which is evaluated via a report, a model/prototype made and (poster) presentations.

Check the detailed overview of courses, learning activities and study load at https://www.studyguide.tudelft.nl/