Course 2024-2025 a.y.

The course is structured into three main parts:

Part 1) Energy scenario and context. The actual context and the future energy scenario will be described, together with some concepts and indexes that are useful to compare different technologies: grid parity, dispatchability, smart grid, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), energy pay-back time, energy return on investment, primary energy saving, energy and carbon intensity.

Part 2) Renewable technologies. The main renewable technologies available will be presented: wind energy, solar photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, hydroelectricity, biomass and geothermal energy. For each technology the basic physical principles will be provided, together with economic performance, example of plant design and technoeconomic analysis, future developments, and the environmental and social impacts.

Part 3) Energy efficiency and decarbonization in industry. The main technologies and solutions to improve efficiency of processes and systems, as well as to drastically reduce carbon emissions will be presented: cogeneration, waste heat recovery, organic Rankine cycles (ORC), hydrogen economy, energy storage technologies. Examples of applications in real industrial cases will be given.

• understand the physical working principle of a renewable technology.
• assess the potential energy production and costs of a renewable source.
• understand the energy, economic and environmental balance of power plants based on a renewable source, taking into account their environmental and social impact, as well as avoided emissions and energy saving.
• assess the economic and energy impact of energy efficiency and decarbonization interventions in the industrial sector.

• make a preliminary design of a power plant based on a renewable source, as well as energy efficiency and decarbonization interventions in the industrial sector, assessing both the economic feasibility and the environmental benefits, in terms of avoided emissions and energy saving.
• autonomously manage the design choices concerning the construction and operation of a real plant.
• communicate the results of their activities in a clear and effective way.

Making judgements: The student is able to autonomously manage the design choices concerning the various technologies for the energy transition covered in the course.

Communication skills: The student is able to communicate the results of his / her activity in a clear and effective way.

• Lectures
• Practical Exercises
• Collaborative Works / Assignments
• Interaction/Gamification

• Lezioni
• Esercitazioni pratiche
• Lavori/Assignment di gruppo
• Interazione/Gamification

To obtain the attending status, students will be required to form groups for the teamwork assignment and participate in the discussion in the classroom. In order to achieve the learning outcomes and measure their acquisition by students: 

- not only is attendance recommended, but class interaction and participation are evaluated, as well as continuous assessment, using open discussion and instant polls. Students are expected to participate actively in the discussion. This aims to test the student’s ability to interact and think critically, applying the concepts presented throughout the course.

Active class participation accounts for 15% of the final grade.

- to evaluate the ability to work in a team and to critically address a real case of application of a technology inserted in the industrial context, group activities will be carried out throughout the course, with the support of tutors. During the last week of the course, each group’s project will be discussed with the class and evaluated. The teamwork activity accounts for 30% of the final grade. - to test the understanding of theoretical concepts described in the course and their application to the real world, students will take a final written exam in one of the exam sessions. The written exam accounts for 55% of the final grade.

In order to achieve the learning outcomes and measure their acquisition by students: - An assignment will be proposed consisting in a review work on a specific technology outside those addressed within the course. The assignment can be performed individually, however students are also encouraged to form small groups to carry out the work. The support of tutors will be offered by appointment, if necessary. Each assignment will be presented and evaluated before the exam. The teamwork/individual activity accounts for 20% of the final grade. - to test the understanding of theoretical concepts described in the course and their application to the real world, students will take a final written exam in one of the exam sessions.

The written exam accounts for 80% of the final grade.

• A. Da Rosa, Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes, Editore: Elsevier, Anno edizione: 2013, ISBN: 978-0-12-397219-4 G.
• Boyle, Renewable Energy, Editore: Oxford, Anno edizione: 2014
• Guide on How to Develop a Small Hydropower Plant, Editore: European Small Hydropower Association - ESHA, Anno edizione: 2004 https://www.scribd.com/doc/131329981/Guide-on-How-to-Develop-a-SmallHydropower-Plant-ESHA-2004