Module manager: Dr AB Ross
Email: a.b.ross@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is approved as a discovery module
An integrated study of the engineering science and technologies that underpin sustainable energy systems. The module covers energy resources, conversion and utilisation across industrial sectors, linking technical, environmental and economic perspectives. Students develop an understanding of combustion, renewables, hydrogen, and energy-efficiency technologies, and apply engineering principles to analyse real industrial energy systems and propose viable sustainability pathways.
Objectives are:
1. Describe energy resources, conversion technologies and their interconnections within global and industrial energy systems.
2. Use engineering tools to quantify energy and carbon flows, and to assess efficiency and sustainability.
3. Describe the principles of combustion and clean-energy conversion technologies central to modern power and industrial processes.
4. Evaluate technical, economic, environmental and policy drivers shaping sustainable energy transitions.
5. Exercise engineering judgement, problem solving and data literacy for real-world energy challenges.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Explain the operating principles and underlying science of major energy-production and utilisation technologies, including combustion, renewable and hydrogen systems.
2. Apply thermodynamic, combustion and process-engineering principles to analyse the efficiency and performance of energy-conversion systems.
3. Quantify and evaluate energy use, emissions and environmental impacts for industrial and power-generation processes using appropriate data and engineering methods.
4. Interpret and apply relevant legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks governing energy, safety, and environmental performance, and assess their implications for engineering design and operation.
5. Integrate sustainability, safety, environmental and economic considerations to develop evidence-based engineering strategies for lower-impact energy technologies.
6. Demonstrate awareness of the wider professional roles and responsibilities of chemical engineers in shaping sustainable and compliant energy systems.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills:
a. Problem solving and critical thinking
b. Technical skills
Semester 1 - Energy Systems, Sustainability and Industrial Transitions
- Global and UK energy demand, supply and resources; energy balances and efficiency metrics.
- Overview of fossil, renewable and nuclear technologies; role of storage and grid integration.
- Environmental impacts of energy production and use; sustainability and life-cycle assessment.
- Energy economics and policy frameworks influencing technology choice.
- Industrial energy use and decarbonisation - sectoral case studies (cement, steel, refining, chemicals); process heat, fuel switching, electrification, hydrogen and CCUS options.
- Total Energies workshop - industrial perspectives on energy transitions and technology integration.
- Guidance and data workshops supporting the Industrial Energy Transition Roadmap coursework.
Semester 2 - Combustion and Clean Energy Conversion
- Fundamentals of combustion: chemistry, stoichiometry, thermodynamics and kinetics.
- Combustion in engines and power-generation systems; efficiency and emissions.
- Formation and control of pollutants (NOx, SO2, CO2, particulates); flue-gas cleaning and emission-reduction technologies.
- Clean-combustion approaches and low-carbon fuels: staged firing, oxy-fuel, biomass and waste-derived fuels.
- Hydrogen combustion, hydrogen carriers and storage methods.
- Emerging technologies for sustainable energy conversion and industrial applications.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Supervision | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lecture | 22 | 2 | 44 |
| Seminar | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Private study hours | 144 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 56 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
- Weekly tutorials and Q&A sessions during lectures, where worked examples and short calculation exercises are discussed and solutions reviewed in class.
- Coursework support workshops (three scheduled sessions in Semester 1) providing formative feedback on topic selection, data sources, and analytical approach.
- Automated online quizzes on key concepts in energy systems and combustion, providing immediate feedback and self-assessment.
- Post-coursework written feedback, including annotated comments and a summary feedback sheet highlighting strengths and improvement areas for future assessments.
- Exam preparation tutorials in Semester 2 that review common problem-solving approaches and allow students to discuss past-paper style questions.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Approx. 2500 words | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2.0 Hrs Mins | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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