Energy Environment and Society

Course Title: Energy Environment and Society

Course No: EX 701

Nature of the Course: THEORY

Semester: 7

Full Marks: 80 + 20

Pass Marks: 32 + 8

Credit Hours: 3

Course Description

This course examines the role of technology in societal development and covers energy fundamentals, including global demand trends and sustainability issues. It provides in-depth study of renewable energy sources (solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydrogen/fuel cells) alongside the environmental impacts and storage of energy. Case studies reinforce the engineer's role in building an environmentally responsible society.

Course Objectives

To understand the various types of energy sources and their environmental impact. To know the role of engineers for creating better and responsible society.

Course Contents

1. Technology and Development

3 hrs

1.1. Introduction to Technology

1.2. Appropriate Technology

1.3. Role of Appropriate Technology in Transformation of Society

1.4. Importance of Technology Transfer

1.5. Impact of technology on Society

2. Energy Basics

4 hrs

2.1. Importance of Energy in achieving Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs, Human Development Index and Energy Consumption

2.2. Current Energy Trends, Demand and Supply of Energy in World and Nepal

2.3. Introduction to Global warming, Clean Development Mechanism, and Sustainability Issues

2.4. Conventional and Non-Conventional/Renewable Energy Sources

2.5. Conventional Energy Sources: Fossil fuel, Nuclear Energy

3. Renewable Energy Sources

14 hrs

3.1. Solar Energy

Solar radiation

Solar thermal energy

Solar Cell (Photovoltaic Technology)

3.2. Hydropower

Water sources and power and hydroelectric plants

Hydro Power Plant Classification (pico, micro, small, medium, large)

3.3. Wind Energy

Availability of Wind Energy sources

Wind turbines, wind parks and power control

3.4. Geothermal Energy

Sources of Geothermal Energy

Uses of Geothermal Energy

3.5. Bio-mass and Bio-energy

Synthetic fuels from the biomass

Thermo-chemical, physio-chemical and bio-chemical conversion

Bio-fuel cells

3.6. Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell

Basics of electrochemistry

Polymer membrane electrolyte (PEM) fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)

Hydrogen production and storage

Coal-fired plants and integrated gassifier fuel cell (IGFC) systems

4. Environmental Impact of Energy sources

4 hrs

3 hrs

5.1. Forms of energy storage

5.2. Hybrid vehicles

5.3. Batteries

6. Relevant International/national case studies

2 hrs

Text Books

1.Godfrey Boyle, "Renewable Energy, Power for a sustainable future", Oxford University Press, latest edition
2.Aldo V. da Rosa, "Fundamentals of Renewable Energry Processes"

Notes:

This syllabus follows the official BCT curriculum of Tribhuwan University. In case of any doubt or revision, the university's published syllabus shall be considered authoritative.

Energy, Environment and Social Engineering