Bio-Energy
Compulsary For MSc YES Technical
As electric bills are expensive and nature’s incomes are at high disposal rate to the environment with an increase of population, the use of biomass sources as feedstock for the production of energy is mandatory to protect the environment and boost the economy. Bioenergy is one of a range of renewable energy sources that can contribute to addressing the global issues associated with climate change, energy security, population growth and a global increase in per capita energy demand. This module provides an overview of key topics on sustainable bioenergy production, including the main biomass systems for bioenergy generation and the wide range of bioenergy conversion and utilisation methods. This module adopts a whole systems approach and enables students to critically appraise the sustainability of various biomass energy production routes.
Outcomes
- Analyze types of biomass sources to be used as feedstock for different types of biofuel production
- Design and assemble customized tools for production of bioenergy from different types of feedstock
- Analyze scenarios for bioenergy implementation for urban and rural development and environmental pollution control
- Communicate concepts and techniques relevant to bio-energy to solve personal, community and environmental problems
- Find opportunities for private business operations or private – public partnership
- Influence in the drafting and acting on prospects of the national bioenergy policy
Energy Economics and Project Finance
Compulsary For MSc YESSocio-economic
In order to implement scientific technical energy projects, mastery of the technical subject matter is not enough. Project developers need knowledge and skills of economics and finance of the planned projects regardless of the project size especially if financial investors and loans from financial institutions are needed. This course enables participants to understand the parameters that influence the financial aspects and project design of renewable energy initiatives. The participants will get to be familiar with a range of financial structuring tools needed to attract investors to ensure the financial viability of renewable energy projects. The course therefore aims to empower professionals to incorporate appropriate financing into their decision-making pertaining to renewable energy projects. It is strongly recommended that students should have experience of Excel. The course will be most relevant to professionals at managerial or technical level in the electricity, investment, insurance, environmental and public sectors.
Outcomes
- Evaluate and implement appropriate financing mechanisms into decision-making pertaining to energy projects
- Select and apply economic and financial structuring tools needed to ensure the financial viability of energy projects.
- Analyze Risk Management, Futures Markets and Derivatives
- Assess the nature of sustainable energy solutions and the financing thereof
- Analyse the impact and applicability of various financial instruments in specific projects
- Calculate and apply financial parameters to a project including: LCOE, NPV, IRR and DSCR
- Critically assess the economic and financial impact of scale, technology and other factors
- Assess the factors that may influence the project financial parameters such as: NPV, IRR and DSCR.
- Critically assess the advantages, role-players and risks associated with the typical project financing structure
- Evaluate a project and advise on how to improve bankability, including issues of financial structuring
- Critically assess risk, return and performance of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
Solar Thermal Systems
Compulsary For MSc YESTechnical
Rational and economic use of energy, with the least damage to the environment, is vital for the future of our planet. Achieving energy efficiency and reducing environmental pollution are increasingly important aspects of professional engineering. This course equips graduates and practicing engineers with an in-depth understanding of the fundamental issues of energy usage in the industrial and commercial sectors. It gives a wide overview on solar thermal systems and their main components. Starting with basic issues of physical processes and design options for non-concentrating and concentrating solar thermal collectors, systems engineering based on these technologies will be presented. Here the complex systems for different applications ranging from solar water heating to process heat for industry to solar thermal power production will be described.
Outcomes
- Analyze and design equipment for solar thermal power production
- Design and dimension solar thermal energy systems with respect to demand and economic considerations
- Analyze energy flow and control issues in complex solar thermal systems for an optimized energy production and storage.
- Analyze and size solar thermal systems through computerized tools or software modeling and understand the limitations of such models
- Carry out experimental investigations of solar thermal systems and disseminate the results and their implications
Renewable Energy Grid Integration
Compulsary For MSc YESTechnical
For energy security of the country, electricity energy generation from alternative (renewable) energy sources is fundamental, as Lesotho has no known fossil fuels for electricity generation. Since generation from alternative sources is usually far from the end users, learning how to evacuate this energy becomes critical. The structure of electrical energy systems (both AC & DC) from the perspective of a national grid, transmission and distribution networks will be presented. The components included within the electrical power system, the models used to represent each component and basic analytical techniques used to combine these component models into an electrical energy system are covered. Models will include generators, power transformers, lines, cables, induction motors, load and power electronics devices. Analytical techniques will include per-unit, phasors and power flow. Renewable energy generation and the integration of renewable energy into the modern power grid will be introduced.
Outcomes
- Describe the structure of electrical energy systems and be able to identify the major components associated with these systems and their functional performance
- Understand the limiting factors of both real and reactive power controllability in machines and transmission / distribution systems
- Use a range of modelling techniques relating to per-unit, power flow and power quality
- Integrate intermittent renewables into the electricity grid